Set Chrome as your default in Windows, Mac, or Linux
Making Google Chrome your default browser means every link you click outside of a web browser — in emails, documents, or messages — opens in Chrome instead of whatever browser your device currently uses. The steps differ slightly by operating system, but the process takes less than a minute on any of them.
On Windows 10 or 11, open Settings, go to Apps, then Default apps. Scroll down to Web browser and click the current default (usually Microsoft Edge). A menu appears showing installed browsers. Select Google Chrome and it becomes your default when ready. You do not need to restart your computer.
On Mac, open Chrome, click Chrome in the menu bar at the top left, then select Settings. Go to Default browser and click "Make Google Chrome the default browser". Mac will ask you to confirm by clicking Open in the system settings that appear. Once you confirm, Chrome is set as default.
On Linux, the method depends on your desktop environment. In most distributions, right-click a link in any process, select "Open with", choose Google Chrome, then check the box that says "Remember my choice for links of this type". Chrome becomes the default for that file type.
Key Takeaways
- Windows users change the default browser through Settings > Apps > Default apps, then select Chrome from the Web browser menu.
- Mac users open Chrome, go to Settings, and click "Make Google Chrome the default browser" in the Default browser section.
- Linux users right-click a link, select "Open with" Chrome, and check "Remember my choice" to set it as default.
- Once set, all links from emails, documents, and other applications open in Chrome without any additional steps.
- You can change your default browser back to another browser at any time using the same process.
What happens after you set Chrome as default
After Chrome becomes your default, every link you encounter outside a browser opens in Chrome. This includes links in Gmail, Outlook, Slack, Microsoft Word documents, PDFs, and text messages. If Chrome is not already running, it launches automatically. If it is already open, the link opens in a new tab in your existing Chrome window.
Setting Chrome as default does not affect which browser you use when you manually open it. You can still use Firefox, Safari, or Edge whenever you want — changing the default only changes what happens when you click a link you did not initiate yourself.
Why you might want Chrome as your default
If you use Chrome for most of your browsing, making it your default saves you the step of copying a link and pasting it into Chrome manually. This is especially useful if you work across multiple applications — switching between email, documents, and web research becomes faster when links open where you already are.
Chrome also syncs your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history across all your devices if you sign in with a Google account. Setting it as default on your computer means links open in the same browser where your saved information lives, making it easier to find things you have already visited.
Changing your default browser back
You can change your default browser back to another option at any time using the same settings where you changed it to Chrome. On Windows, go back to Settings > Apps > Default apps and select a different browser from the Web browser menu. On Mac, open any browser, go to its settings, and look for a "Make [Browser] the default browser" button. On Linux, right-click a link, select "Open with", choose your preferred browser, and check "Remember my choice".
Changing the default does not uninstall Chrome or affect your data in it. Chrome remains on your computer with all your bookmarks and passwords intact, and you can still open it manually whenever you want.
If Chrome does not appear in your default browser options
If you do not see Chrome listed when you try to set it as default, Chrome may not be installed on your device. read it from google.com/chrome, run the installer, and let it finish completely. After installation, Chrome should appear in your default browser options.
On some work computers or school devices, an administrator may have restricted which browsers can be set as default. If you see a message saying the setting is managed by your organization, contact your IT support or system administrator to request the ability to change your default browser.
Using Chrome profiles with your default browser
If you use multiple Chrome profiles — for example, one for work and one for personal use — setting Chrome as default opens links in whichever profile was active the last time you closed Chrome. If you want links to always open in a specific profile, you can create a desktop shortcut that launches Chrome directly into that profile, then use that shortcut instead of the default browser setting.
To do this, right-click the Chrome shortcut on your desktop, select Properties (Windows) or Get Info (Mac), and add --profile-directory="Profile 2" to the end of the target path, replacing "Profile 2" with the name of the profile you want. This is more advanced, but useful if you keep work and personal browsing completely separate.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will setting Chrome as default delete my other browsers?
No. Setting Chrome as default only changes which browser opens when you click links outside of a browser. Your other browsers remain installed and you can still use them whenever you want by opening them manually.
Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?
Most operating systems do not support this. You can set one default browser for all web links. Some advanced Linux users can configure this through their desktop environment settings, but it is not a standard feature on Windows or Mac.
What if I change my mind and want a different default browser?
You can change your default browser back at any time using the same settings where you changed it to Chrome. The process takes about a minute and does not affect any of your data or installed applications.
Does setting Chrome as default affect my Google account or data?
No. Setting Chrome as default is a browser preference that does not change your Google account, passwords, or any data stored in Chrome. Your information remains exactly as it was.
Why do some links still open in a different browser after I set Chrome as default?
Some applications — particularly Microsoft Office, certain email clients, or specialized software — may override your default browser setting and open links in their own embedded browser. This is controlled by the process itself, not your system settings. You can usually change this in the process's preferences.