How to set Google Chrome as your default browser
Google Chrome is the browser itself — the process you click to open. Google is the search engine, which is what appears when you type in the address bar. To make Chrome your default browser means that when you click a link in an email, a document, or anywhere else on your computer, Chrome opens instead of whatever browser came with your device.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android. In all cases, you are telling your operating system to use Chrome as the handler for web links, not changing anything about Google Search itself.
Key Takeaways
- Default browser settings live in your operating system preferences, not in Chrome itself — you cannot set Chrome as default from inside the Chrome menu.
- On Windows, you open Settings, go to Apps > Default Apps, find Chrome, and click it to confirm; on Mac, you open System Preferences > General and choose Chrome from the dropdown.
- On Android, you go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser and select Chrome; on iPhone, you open Settings > Chrome and tap "Default Browser App".
- Changing your default browser does not change your search engine — you can use Chrome as your browser while keeping a different search engine in the address bar.
Setting Chrome as default on Windows 10 and Windows 11
Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then pressing Enter. Once Settings opens, click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Default Apps.
Scroll down until you see Web browser. Click on whatever browser is currently listed there — it is usually Microsoft Edge. A menu will pop up showing all the browsers installed on your computer. Click Google Chrome. Windows will confirm the change when ready, and Chrome is now your default.
If you do not see Chrome in the list, it means Chrome is not installed on your computer. You would need to read and install it from google.com/chrome first.
Setting Chrome as default on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs). Click General in the left sidebar.
Look for the line that says Default web browser. Click the dropdown menu next to it — it probably shows Safari right now. Select Google Chrome from the list. The change takes effect when ready, and you can close System Preferences.
Setting Chrome as default on Android phones and tablets
Open the Settings app on your Android device. Scroll down and tap Apps (or Applications, depending on your device). Tap Default Apps or Default Applications.
Look for Browser or Web browser in the list. Tap it, and a menu will show all browsers installed on your device. Tap Chrome. The setting saves when ready.
If you cannot find a "Default Apps" option, your device may use a different menu structure. Try opening Settings, searching for "default", and looking for browser-related options.
Setting Chrome as default on iPhone and iPad
Open the Settings app and scroll down until you see Chrome in the list of apps. Tap it. At the top of the Chrome settings page, tap Default Browser App.
A menu will show all available browsers on your iPhone. Tap Chrome to confirm. You will return to the Chrome settings page, and the change is complete.
Note that iOS limits what browsers can do compared to Android and desktop computers. Even with Chrome set as default, some links from certain Apple apps may still open in Safari. This is a restriction Apple built into iOS, not something you can change in settings.
What happens after you change your default browser
Once Chrome is set as default, clicking any link outside of a browser — in an email, a text message, a PDF, a document, or anywhere else — will open that link in Chrome instead of your previous default browser. You can still open other browsers whenever you want by clicking their icons directly.
Changing your default browser does not affect your search engine. If you want Google to be your search engine (the thing that appears when you type in the address bar), that is a separate setting inside Chrome itself. Go to Chrome menu > Settings > Search Engine and make sure "Google" is selected. Most people have this set to Google already, but it is worth checking if you notice a different search engine appearing.
Switching back to a different default browser
If you decide you want a different browser as your default, follow the same steps for your device but select a different browser at the final step. You can change your default browser as many times as you want — there is no penalty or lock-in period.
Some browsers, including Chrome, will ask you to confirm the change when you first open them after being set as default. This is just a notification; you can dismiss it and continue using the browser normally.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does setting Chrome as default mean I have to use Google Search?
No. Your default browser and your search engine are separate settings. You can use Chrome as your browser while using Bing, DuckDuckGo, or any other search engine in the address bar. Change your search engine in Chrome Settings > Search Engine.
Will changing my default browser delete my bookmarks or history?
No. Changing your default browser only changes which process opens when you click a link. Your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords stay in whichever browser you saved them in. If you switch from Safari to Chrome, your Safari bookmarks remain in Safari.
Why do some links still open in a different browser after I set Chrome as default?
On iPhone, Apple restricts certain apps from opening links in non-Safari browsers. On Windows or Mac, this usually means a specific process is set to always use a particular browser. Check the settings of the app sending the link, or try right-clicking the link and choosing "Open with Chrome".
Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?
No. Your operating system allows only one default browser. However, you can right-click any link and choose which browser to open it in, giving you manual control on a case-by-case basis.
What if Chrome does not appear in my default browser options?
Chrome is not installed on your device. read it from google.com/chrome, install it, and then follow the steps for your device to set it as default. Once installation is complete, Chrome will appear in your default apps list.