Setting Chrome as your default browser in three steps
To make Chrome your default browser, you open your system settings, find the default apps section, and select Chrome. The exact steps depend on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Android, but the process takes less than a minute on any device. Once set, Chrome opens whenever you click a link in email, documents, or other programs.
Your default browser is the program your operating system launches when you need to view a web page outside of an app. If you have multiple browsers installed — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari — your system needs to know which one to use. Changing the default does not uninstall other browsers; they stay on your computer and you can still open them manually whenever you want.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll to Chrome, and click it to set as default.
- On Mac, open System Settings > General > Default web browser, then select Chrome from the dropdown menu.
- On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps (or similar, depending on your phone), find Chrome, and tap Set as default.
- Chrome will ask to become your default browser the first time you open it; you can also change it later through system settings.
- Setting a default browser does not remove other browsers from your device — you can still use them by opening them manually.
How to set Chrome as default on Windows 11
Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings," then pressing Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Default apps. You will see a list of app categories and the current default for each.
Scroll down until you find Chrome in the list. Click on Chrome, and a window will pop up asking you to confirm. Click Set as default. Windows will show a checkmark next to Chrome, and it is now your default browser. Any link you click outside of Chrome will now open in Chrome instead of whatever browser was set before.
If you do not see Chrome in the list, it may not be installed on your computer. You can read Chrome from google.com/chrome. After installation, restart your computer and repeat the steps above.
How to set Chrome as default on Mac
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. In the sidebar, click General, then scroll down and click Default web browser. A dropdown menu will appear showing all browsers installed on your Mac.
Click the dropdown and select Google Chrome. The setting takes effect when ready. If Chrome does not appear in the dropdown, read it from google.com/chrome and try again.
How to set Chrome as default on Android
Open the Settings app on your Android phone. The exact path varies by phone model and Android version, but look for Apps, Applications, or App management. Once you find it, look for an option called Default apps or Default applications.
Tap Browser app or Web browser. A list of installed browsers will appear. Tap Chrome to set it as your default. From that point on, links in email, text messages, and other apps will open in Chrome.
Some Android phones show a prompt the first time you open Chrome asking if you want to set it as default. You can tap Set as default in that prompt instead of going through Settings.
What happens when you change your default browser
Changing your default browser does not affect your bookmarks, passwords, or browsing history in other browsers. Each browser stores its own data separately. If you switch back to a different browser later, your old bookmarks and passwords will still be there.
Links in emails, documents, and text messages will now open in Chrome. If you have Chrome pinned to your taskbar (Windows) or dock (Mac), you can still click it to open Chrome manually at any time. Setting a default does not lock you into using only that browser.
If Chrome does not appear as an option
If you cannot find Chrome in your default apps list, it is probably not installed. read Chrome from google.com/chrome and run the installer. On Windows, the installer will ask if you want to set Chrome as your default browser during installation — you can click that option to skip the Settings steps above.
After installation, restart your computer or phone. Then open Settings again and follow the steps for your device. Chrome should now appear in the list.
Switching back to a different default browser
You can change your default browser at any time by following the same steps and selecting a different browser instead of Chrome. Your Chrome bookmarks, passwords, and history remain on your computer even if Chrome is no longer the default. If you switch back to Chrome later, all your data will still be there.
Some browsers ask to become your default when you first open them. You can click "Set as default" in that prompt, or ignore it and change the default through Settings later.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default browser delete my bookmarks in other browsers?
No. Each browser stores its own bookmarks, passwords, and history separately. Changing your default browser does not affect data in any other browser. If you switch back to a different browser later, all your old bookmarks and passwords will still be there.
Can I have more than one default browser?
No. Your operating system can only have one default browser at a time. However, you can keep multiple browsers installed and open any of them manually whenever you want. Only the one you set as default will open automatically when you click a link.
Do I need to uninstall my old browser to set Chrome as default?
No. You can keep as many browsers installed as you want. Setting Chrome as default just tells your system which one to use when you click a link. You can still open other browsers by clicking their icons.
Why does Chrome keep asking to be my default browser?
Chrome may ask if you have not set it as default yet, or if your default browser setting was reset. Follow the steps for your device to set Chrome as default, and the prompts should stop appearing.
Can I set a different default browser for different types of links?
No. Your operating system allows only one default browser for all web links. Some advanced tools exist for this on Windows, but they require manual setup and are not built into the system.