Making Chrome your default browser

To make Chrome your default browser, you open your computer or phone's settings, find the section for default apps or browser, and select Chrome from the list. The exact steps depend on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Android, but the process takes less than a minute on any device. Once you set it, links you click in emails, documents, or other apps will open in Chrome instead of whatever browser was set before.

Your default browser choice applies across your entire device. When you click a link in Gmail, a text message, a PDF, or a social media app, that link will open in Chrome. You can still use other browsers whenever you want — setting a default only controls what happens when you click a link outside of a browser window.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 or 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll to "Web browser", and click your current browser to change it to Chrome.
  • On Mac, open Chrome, go to Chrome menu > Settings > Default browser, and click "Make default".
  • On Android, open Settings > Apps > Default apps (or similar, depending on your phone brand), find "Browser app", and select Chrome.
  • Your choice sticks across all apps on that device — emails, documents, and web links will all open in Chrome by default.
  • You can change your default browser back to something else at any time by following the same steps and selecting a different option.

Windows 10 and 11

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 Web browser. Click on whatever browser is currently listed there — it might say "Microsoft Edge" or another name. A menu will pop up showing all the browsers installed on your computer. Click Google Chrome.

Windows will confirm the change immediately. You can close Settings. From that point on, any link you click outside of Chrome will open in Chrome instead. If you ever want to switch back to Edge or another browser, you follow the same steps and select a different option.

Mac

Open Chrome by clicking its icon in the Dock or Applications folder. Once Chrome is open, click the Chrome menu in the top-left corner of your screen (next to the Apple logo), then click Settings.

In the left sidebar, click Default browser. You will see a button that says Make default. Click it. Mac will ask you to confirm — click Open in the dialog that appears.

Chrome is now your default browser. Close the Settings tab and you are done. The change takes effect immediately, and links from emails, messages, and other apps will now open in Chrome. If you decide to use a different browser later, you can return to this same menu and select a different option.

Android phones and tablets

Open your phone's Settings app. The exact path varies by phone brand, but look for Apps, Applications, or App management. Once you find it, look for a section called Default apps or Default applications.

Tap Browser app or Web browser. A list of installed browsers will appear. Tap Chrome. Your phone will confirm the change, and Chrome is now set as default.

If you cannot find a "Default apps" section, try searching your Settings for the word "default" — most Android phones will show you the right page. On some Samsung phones, the setting is under Apps > More options > Default apps. On Google Pixel phones, it is usually under Apps & notifications > Default apps.

What happens after you change your default

Once Chrome is set as default, any link you tap or click outside of Chrome will open in Chrome. This includes links in emails, text messages, social media apps, documents, and web pages opened from other programs. If you receive a link in a messaging app and tap it, Chrome will launch and load that page.

If you change your mind later, you can switch back to a different browser by following the same steps and selecting a different option instead of Chrome. You can also change your default browser as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you can switch, and changing your default does not affect your bookmarks, passwords, or history in any browser.

If Chrome does not appear in the list

If you do not see Chrome listed when you try to set a default browser, it means Chrome is not installed on your device. You will need to download and install it first before you can make it your default.

On Windows or Mac, visit google.com/chrome, click the download button, and follow the installer instructions. On Android, open the Google Play Store, search for "Chrome", and tap Install. Once installation is complete, return to your default browser settings and Chrome will appear in the list. The installation usually takes just a few minutes, and you do not need to restart your device on most systems.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use Chrome as my default browser?

No. You can use any browser you want and change your default whenever you like. Setting a default just means links outside of Chrome will open in Chrome — you can still open other browsers and use them whenever you choose.

Will changing my default browser delete my data from other browsers?

No. Your bookmarks, passwords, and history in other browsers stay exactly where they are. Changing your default only affects which browser opens when you click a link outside of any browser.

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

No. Your operating system allows only one default browser at a time. All links will open in whichever browser you set as default. Some browsers offer extensions that let you choose which browser opens certain links, but that requires extra setup.

What if my default browser keeps changing back to something else?

Some software or updates can reset your default browser without asking. Check your Settings again and set Chrome as default once more. If it keeps changing, look for any recently installed programs that might be changing it automatically, and consider uninstalling them if you do not need them.

Does setting Chrome as default make it faster?

No. Your default browser setting only controls which browser opens links from other apps. It does not affect how fast Chrome runs or how it performs compared to other browsers.