Why you might want Google as your default browser
If you use Google Chrome and a Google account, you can set Google Search as your default search engine within Chrome itself — but that is different from making Chrome your default browser at the operating system level. Your default browser is what opens when you click a link in an email, a document, or another program. Your default search engine is what runs the search box inside your browser.
Most people who use Chrome already have Google Search as their default search engine without doing anything. The confusion usually comes from the fact that Chrome and Google are separate things: Chrome is the browser (the program), and Google is the search engine (what answers your searches). If you want links from outside Chrome to open in Chrome, you need to set Chrome as your default browser. If you want your searches to go to Google instead of Bing or another engine, you need to set Google as your default search engine.
This guide covers both, because the steps are different and the reasons you might want each one are different.
Key Takeaways
- Your default browser is what opens when you click links outside of any browser — set this at the operating system level, not inside Chrome.
- Your default search engine is what answers searches typed into the address bar — set this inside Chrome's settings.
- On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and choose Chrome; on Mac, open Chrome and go to Settings > Default Browser.
- Inside Chrome, go to Settings > Search Engine and choose Google if it is not already selected.
- Some programs may override your default browser choice, so you may need to reset it after installing new software.
Setting Chrome as your default browser on Windows
Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Default Apps. Scroll down until you see the browser section, which usually shows your current default browser with a blue icon.
Click on your current default browser (it might say "Microsoft Edge" or another name). A window will open showing available browsers. Find Google Chrome in the list and click it. Windows will confirm the change when ready. The next time you click a link outside of a browser, it will open in Chrome.
If Chrome does not appear in the list, it may not be installed yet. You can read it from google.com/chrome. After installation, repeat the steps above.
Setting Chrome as your default browser on Mac
Open Google Chrome. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner and select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Default Browser. You will see a button that says "Make default" or "Chrome is your default browser" if it is already set. Click the "Make default" button if it appears.
Your Mac will ask you to confirm. Click the confirmation button, and Chrome is now your default browser. Links from emails, documents, and other programs will open in Chrome from now on.
Making sure Google Search is your default search engine in Chrome
Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings. In the left sidebar, click Search Engine. You will see a dropdown menu that shows your current default search engine.
Click the dropdown and look for Google in the list. If Google is already shown, it is already your default — you do not need to change anything. If you see Bing, Yahoo, or another search engine, click Google to switch to it.
If Google does not appear in the list at all, you can add it manually. Scroll to the bottom of the search engine list and click Manage search engines. Click the Add button, type "Google" as the name, and type "google.com" as the URL. Then set it as default.
What to do if your default browser keeps changing
Some programs — particularly other browsers, antivirus software, or toolbars — will change your default browser when you install them. If you set Chrome as default and it keeps switching back, check what you installed recently.
The fastest fix is to set Chrome as default again using the steps above. If the problem happens repeatedly, look in the settings of any recently installed program for an option like "Make this my default browser" or "Set as default" and turn it off. You can also uninstall programs you do not use regularly.
On Windows, you can also prevent programs from changing your default browser by going to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and looking for an option that says "App installer" or similar. Some versions of Windows let you lock your default browser choice so programs cannot override it.
The difference between default browser and default search engine
These two settings control different things, and you can mix and match them. You could use Chrome as your default browser but Bing as your search engine, or Firefox as your default browser but Google as your search engine. Most people want both to be Google products (Chrome and Google Search), but the choice is yours.
Your default browser affects what happens when you click a link in an email or document. Your default search engine affects what happens when you type a question into the address bar at the top of your browser. If you want all your searches to go to Google, you need to set Google as your search engine. If you want all your links to open in Chrome, you need to set Chrome as your default browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will setting Chrome as default delete my data in other browsers?
No. Setting Chrome as your default browser does not touch any other browser or any of your data. Your bookmarks, passwords, and history in Edge, Firefox, or any other browser will stay exactly where they are. You can still use other browsers whenever you want.
What if I want to use Chrome for some links but not others?
You cannot split your default browser choice — the operating system sends all links to one browser. However, you can right-click a link in most programs and choose "Open with" to pick a different browser for that one link. This works in email, documents, and most other programs.
Does setting Google as my search engine mean Google tracks my searches?
Google does record searches you make while signed into your Google account. If you want to search without that record, you can use Google's Incognito mode (press Ctrl+Shift+N on Windows or Cmd+Shift+N on Mac), which does not save your search history. You can also use a different search engine like DuckDuckGo if you prefer not to use Google.
Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?
No. Your operating system has one default browser for all links. Some programs let you choose which browser opens links within that program, but the system-wide default is a single choice. You can always right-click and pick a different browser for individual links.
What if Chrome is not showing up in my default apps list?
Chrome may not be installed, or it may need to be updated. read the latest version from google.com/chrome and install it. After installation, wait a few minutes and check your default apps list again. If it still does not appear, restart your computer and try once more.