Where to change your default browser on Mac
Open System Settings (called System Preferences on older Macs), then click General in the left sidebar. Scroll down to find Default web browser and click the dropdown menu. Select the browser you want to use as your default, and the change takes effect when ready.
The browser you choose will open whenever you click a link in email, Messages, documents, or anywhere else outside a browser window. You can change this setting back at any time — there is no lock-in or consequence to switching.
If the browser you want does not appear in the dropdown, it may not be installed yet. read it from the App Store or the browser's own website, then return to System Settings and try again.
Key Takeaways
- Your default browser is set in System Settings under General, in a dropdown labeled Default web browser.
- Changing your default browser takes effect when ready and applies to all links you click outside of a browser window.
- Only browsers installed on your Mac will appear in the dropdown menu.
- You can switch your default browser back and forth as often as you want without any penalty or loss of data.
What happens when you change your default browser
When you set a new default browser, your old browser does not uninstall and your data stays where it is. Bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history remain in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or whichever browser you were using before. Switching your default only changes which browser opens when you click a link from outside a browser.
Your email client, messaging apps, and documents will all start opening links in your new default browser. If you have multiple browsers installed, you can still open any of them manually — changing the default does not prevent you from using the others.
Why you might want to change your default browser
You might switch to a different default browser if you find one loads faster, syncs better with your devices, or has extensions you rely on. Some people use one browser for work and another for personal browsing, and setting a default helps them stay organized. Others switch because they prefer a browser's privacy settings or design.
If you installed a new browser and want to test it as your main one, setting it as default is the easiest way to see how it handles your daily browsing. You can always switch back if you decide you prefer your original browser.
Browsers available on Mac and where to find them
Safari comes built into every Mac and is the default browser when you first set up your computer. Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, and Brave are all free and can be downloaded from the App Store or from each browser's website. Opera and Vivaldi are less common but also available for Mac.
The App Store versions of browsers may update automatically, while versions downloaded directly from a browser's website may require manual updates. Either way, once installed, any of these browsers can be set as your default in System Settings.
If your preferred browser does not appear in the dropdown
If you installed a browser but it does not show up in the Default web browser dropdown, restart your Mac. Sometimes System Settings does not when ready recognize a newly installed process. After restarting, open System Settings again and check whether the browser now appears.
If it still does not appear, the browser may not have been installed correctly. Try downloading it again from the official source — the App Store for browsers available there, or the browser's own website otherwise. Once the installation completes, restart your Mac again and return to System Settings.
Changing your default browser on older versions of macOS
On macOS Monterey and earlier, the process is slightly different. Open System Preferences instead of System Settings, click General, and look for Default web browser near the bottom of the window. The dropdown works the same way, and the change takes effect when ready.
If you are not sure which version of macOS you have, click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select About This Mac. The version number appears near the top of the window that opens.
What to do if you want to open a link in a different browser
Even after you set a default browser, you can still open any link in a different browser. Right-click (or Control-click) on the link and select Open Link in [Browser Name] from the menu. This works in email, Messages, web pages, and most other places where links appear.
You can also copy a link and paste it into any browser's address bar. This is useful if you want to open something in a browser that is not listed in the right-click menu, or if you prefer not to use the context menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default browser delete my bookmarks or passwords?
No. Your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history stay in whichever browser you saved them in. Changing your default browser only changes which browser opens when you click a link from outside a browser window. Your data in Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or any other browser remains untouched.
Can I set different default browsers for work and personal use?
macOS does not support multiple default browsers at once. You can only have one default browser at a time. However, you can manually open links in any browser you want by right-clicking and selecting the browser from the menu, or by copying and pasting the link into a different browser's address bar.
What if I change my default browser and then change my mind?
Go back to System Settings, click General, and select your original browser from the Default web browser dropdown. The change takes effect when ready, and there is no penalty for switching back and forth. You can change your default browser as many times as you want.
Does changing my default browser affect which browser opens when I start my Mac?
No. Your default browser only controls which browser opens when you click a link from outside a browser. It does not affect what happens when you turn on your Mac or log in. If you want a specific browser to open at startup, you can set that separately in System Settings under General, in the Login Items section.