Setting Chrome as your default browser in three steps

To make Google Chrome your default browser on Mac, open Chrome, click "Chrome" in the menu bar at the top left, select "Settings", find "Default browser" on the left side, and click the "Make default" button. macOS will then ask you to confirm by opening System Settings and selecting Chrome from the "Default web browser" dropdown. The whole process takes about one minute.

Once you complete these steps, any link you click in email, messages, documents, or other apps will open in Chrome instead of Safari or whatever browser was set before. This change affects your entire Mac account — if multiple people use the same Mac, each person can set their own default independently.

Key Takeaways

  • Chrome's own Settings menu has a "Make default" button that starts the process, but macOS requires you to confirm the change in System Settings.
  • The confirmation step opens System Settings automatically — you do not need to hunt for it yourself.
  • Changing your default browser does not uninstall Safari or remove it from your Mac; it only changes which browser opens when you click links.
  • If you change your mind later, the same process works to switch back to Safari or set a different browser as default.

Opening Chrome and finding the Settings menu

Launch Google Chrome by clicking its icon in the Dock or by opening Applications and double-clicking Chrome. Once Chrome is open, look at the very top left of your screen where you see the menu bar. Click the word "Chrome" — not the Chrome icon in the Dock, but the actual word "Chrome" in the menu bar at the top of the window.

A dropdown menu will appear with options like "About Google Chrome", "Preferences", and "Settings". Click "Settings" (or "Preferences" — they are the same thing on Mac). A new tab will open showing Chrome's settings page.

Locating the Default browser option

On the left side of the Settings page, you will see a column of categories. Look for "Default browser" in that list and click it. If you do not see it when ready, scroll down the left column — it appears near the bottom.

Once you click "Default browser", the main area on the right will show a button that says "Make default". This button only appears if Chrome is not already your default browser. If Chrome is already set as default, you will see text saying so instead of a button.

Clicking Make default and confirming in System Settings

Click the "Make default" button. Your Mac will when ready open the System Settings app and jump to the "General" section. You will see a dropdown menu labeled "Default web browser" with "Safari" currently selected (or whatever your previous default was).

Click that dropdown and select "Google Chrome" from the list. The change takes effect when ready — you can close System Settings and return to Chrome. You do not need to restart your Mac or Chrome itself.

Verifying the change worked

To confirm Chrome is now your default, you can test it by clicking a link in an email, text message, or document. The link should open in Chrome rather than Safari. You can also return to Chrome's Settings and check the "Default browser" section — it should now show "Chrome is your default browser" instead of the "Make default" button.

If you see the "Make default" button still there after you thought you confirmed the change, it means the System Settings step did not complete. Go back to System Settings (click the Apple menu in the top left, then "System Settings"), click "General" on the left, and manually select Chrome from the "Default web browser" dropdown.

Switching back to Safari or a different browser

If you want to change your default browser again later, the process is identical. Open Chrome, go to Settings, click "Default browser", and click "Make default" — or open System Settings directly, click "General", and change the "Default web browser" dropdown to Safari, Firefox, Edge, or any other browser you have installed.

Changing your default browser does not delete Chrome, Safari, or any other browser from your Mac. It only controls which one opens when you click a link. You can keep Chrome installed and use it whenever you want, even if it is not your default.

What happens if you have multiple user accounts on your Mac

Each person who uses your Mac can have their own default browser. If you share a Mac with family members or colleagues, changing your default to Chrome will not change theirs — they will still see Safari or whatever they set as their default when they click links.

To set a different default for another account, that person needs to log into their own account and follow the same steps. System Settings stores the default browser choice separately for each user account on the Mac.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to restart my Mac after setting Chrome as default?

No. The change takes effect when ready after you select Chrome in System Settings. You can start clicking links and having them open in Chrome right away without restarting anything.

What if the Make default button does not appear in Chrome Settings?

Chrome is already your default browser. You can verify this by opening a link in an email or document — it should open in Chrome. If you want to change to a different browser, go to System Settings, click "General", and change the "Default web browser" dropdown.

Will setting Chrome as default remove Safari from my Mac?

No. Safari will remain on your Mac and you can still open it and use it whenever you want. Setting Chrome as default only changes which browser opens automatically when you click a link — it does not uninstall or hide Safari.

Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?

No. macOS only allows one default browser for all links. However, you can always manually open a link in a different browser by right-clicking the link and selecting "Open Link in [Browser Name]" from the menu.

What if I cannot find the Default browser option in Chrome Settings?

Make sure you are looking at the left sidebar of the Settings page, not the top of the page. Scroll down the left column if you do not see it when ready. If you still cannot find it, try closing Chrome completely and opening it again, then returning to Settings.