What "main browser" means and why you might change it
Your main browser is the program your computer or phone uses by default when you click a link in an email, a document, or anywhere else outside a web page. It is also the browser that opens when you type a web address into your address bar. Changing it means picking a different program — like switching from Edge to Chrome, or from Safari to Firefox — and telling your device to use that program instead.
People change browsers for different reasons. You might want faster performance, better privacy controls, or a browser that works better with the websites you use most. Some people switch because they prefer how a different browser organizes bookmarks or tabs. Others change because they want to use extensions (small programs that add features) that only work in certain browsers.
The steps are different depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android, but the idea is the same: you install the new browser, then tell your device it is now the default.
Key Takeaways
- Your main browser is the program that opens automatically when you click links outside of web pages, and you can change it to any browser you have installed.
- On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and select your new browser; on Mac, open System Settings > General > Default Web Browser.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > [Browser Name] and toggle "Default Browser App" on; on Android, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App.
- You must install the new browser first before you can set it as default — downloading it from the official website or app store is the safest method.
- Changing your default browser does not delete your old browser or affect your bookmarks and passwords stored in it.
How to change your default browser on Windows
Start by installing the browser you want to use if you do not have it already. Go to the official website (Chrome.google.com for Google Chrome, Firefox.org for Firefox, or Brave.com for Brave, for example) and download the installer. Run the installer and follow the prompts to finish the installation.
Once the new browser is installed, open Windows Settings. You can do this by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then clicking the Settings app. Go to Apps, then select Default Apps from the left menu.
Scroll down until you see Web Browser. Click on it, and a list of installed browsers will appear. Select the browser you want to use as your default. Windows will confirm the change immediately, and you are done.
How to change your default browser on Mac
Install your new browser first by downloading it from the official website and dragging the application into your Applications folder, or by downloading an installer and running it. You can verify it installed by opening Finder, clicking Applications, and looking for the browser name in the list.
Open System Settings (you can find this in the Apple menu at the top left). Click General in the sidebar, then scroll down to find Default Web Browser. Click the dropdown menu next to it and select the browser you want to use.
The change takes effect immediately. Any links you click outside of a web page will now open in your new default browser.
How to change your default browser on iPhone
First, download the browser you want to use from the App Store. Search for it by name (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, or others), tap the cloud icon to download it, and wait for installation to finish.
Open the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down and find the name of the browser you just installed — it will appear as its own entry in the Settings list. Tap it, then look for an option that says Default Browser App or Default Email App. Toggle it on.
Once toggled on, that browser becomes your default. From that point forward, links in emails, messages, and other apps will open in your chosen browser instead of Safari.
How to change your default browser on Android
Download your new browser from the Google Play Store. Open the Play Store app, search for the browser by name, and tap Install. Wait for the download and installation to finish.
Open the Settings app. Go to Apps, then tap Default Apps. Look for Browser App or Web Browser in the list. Tap it and select the browser you want to use from the options shown.
Some Android phones organize this slightly differently — if you do not see "Default Apps" in the Apps menu, try looking in Settings > System > Default Apps instead. The option exists on all Android phones, though the exact path varies by manufacturer.
What happens to your old browser and your saved information
Changing your default browser does not remove the old browser from your device. It stays installed and you can still open it manually whenever you want. Some people keep multiple browsers installed for different purposes — one for work, one for personal use, or one specifically for a website that works better in that browser.
Your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history stay in the browser where you saved them. If you had bookmarks in Chrome and switch to Firefox, your Chrome bookmarks remain in Chrome. If you want to move them to your new browser, most browsers have an import feature. In Firefox, for example, you can go to Menu > Bookmarks > Manage Bookmarks > Import & Backup > Import Data from Another Browser, and Firefox will copy your bookmarks from Chrome, Edge, or Safari.
Your passwords work the same way. If you saved passwords in your old browser, they stay there. Your new browser will not automatically have access to them, but you can usually import them using a similar import feature, or you can use a password manager like Bitwarden or 1Password that works across all browsers.
Troubleshooting: your default browser is not changing
If you set a new default browser but links still open in your old one, restart your device. Sometimes the change does not take effect until you restart. Power off completely, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on.
On Windows, if the change still does not stick, check that you are logged in with an administrator account. Some user accounts have restrictions that prevent changing system defaults. If you are not sure, right-click Settings and select "Run as administrator", then try changing the default again.
On Mac, if Safari keeps opening instead of your chosen browser, open System Settings again, go to General > Default Web Browser, and make sure your chosen browser is actually selected in the dropdown. Sometimes the selection does not save on the first try.
On iPhone and Android, make sure you toggled the default browser setting all the way on — it should show a checkmark or be highlighted in blue. If it is already on, toggle it off, wait a few seconds, and toggle it back on.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default browser affect my email or other apps?
No. Your default browser only controls what opens when you click a web link. Email, messaging, maps, and other apps continue to work exactly as they did. If you want to change what app opens for email links specifically, that is a separate setting in most devices.
Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?
Not on most devices. You can only set one default browser for all web links. However, you can manually choose which browser to use each time by long-pressing a link and selecting "Open in [Browser Name]" — this works on both phones and computers.
Do I need to uninstall my old browser before setting a new default?
No. You can keep as many browsers installed as you want. Uninstalling is optional and only necessary if you want to free up storage space or remove a browser you no longer use.
What if I change my mind and want to switch back?
Follow the same steps you used to change it the first time. Go back to your default browser settings and select your original browser from the list. The change takes effect immediately.
Is it safe to download a browser from anywhere other than the official website?
It is safest to download from the official website or the official app store (Google Play Store for Android, App Store for iPhone). Downloading from third-party sites carries a small risk of getting a modified version that may contain unwanted software. Stick with the official source.