Setting Chrome as your default browser in three steps

Making Chrome your default browser means that when you click a link in an email, document, or app, it opens in Chrome instead of whatever browser you had set before. The process takes less than a minute and is different depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or Android.

On any device, you are telling the operating system to use Chrome as the handler for web links. This does not uninstall your other browsers — they stay on your computer or phone. It just changes which one launches when you need one.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Chrome settings, select "Default browser" on the left, and click "Make default".
  • On Mac, open System Settings, go to General, find Default web browser, and choose Google Chrome from the dropdown.
  • On Android, open Settings, tap Apps, select Default apps, choose Browser app, and select Chrome.
  • You only need to do this once — the setting stays in place until you change it again.
  • If the "Make default" button does not appear on Windows, your administrator may have locked this setting.

Making Chrome default on Windows

Open Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. Select Settings from the menu that appears. On the left side, click Default browser.

You will see a section that says "Default browser" with a button underneath. If the button says Make default, click it. A small window may pop up asking you to confirm — click Yes if it does. Chrome is now your default browser.

If the button is grayed out or says "Already your default browser", Chrome is already set as default and you do not need to do anything. If you see a message about administrator settings, your computer is managed by a workplace or school, and only an administrator can change this setting.

Making Chrome default on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs). Click General in the left sidebar. Scroll down until you see Default web browser.

Click the dropdown menu next to "Default web browser" and select Google Chrome from the list. Close the settings window — the change is saved automatically. The next time you click a link outside of Chrome, it will open in Chrome instead.

Making Chrome default on Android

Open the Settings app on your phone. Scroll down and tap Apps. Tap Default apps (the exact name varies by phone model — look for anything with "default" in it). Tap Browser app.

A list of installed browsers will appear. Tap Chrome. You will return to the previous screen, and Chrome is now your default. From now on, links in text messages, emails, and other apps will open in Chrome.

What to do if you cannot find the default browser setting

On Windows, if you cannot find the "Default browser" option in Chrome settings, your version of Chrome may be outdated. Click the three dots, go to Settings, and look at the top of the page — you should see an update notification if one is available. Click it to update Chrome, then try again.

On Mac, if the dropdown does not show Chrome, make sure Chrome is actually installed. Open Finder, click Applications on the left, and look for Google Chrome in the list. If it is not there, you need to download and install Chrome first before you can set it as default.

On Android, if Chrome does not appear in the browser list, it may not be installed. Open the Google Play Store, search for "Chrome", and tap Install. Once installation finishes, go back to Settings and follow the steps above.

Changing your default browser back later

If you decide you want to use a different browser as your default, the process is identical — just select that browser's name instead of Chrome. You can change your default browser as many times as you want, and there is no penalty for doing so.

Removing Chrome from your computer or phone does not happen automatically when you switch to a different default. If you want to uninstall Chrome entirely, you can do that separately through your system settings or app store, but changing the default browser does not remove it.

Why Chrome might not stay as your default

Sometimes after a Windows update, your default browser resets to Microsoft Edge. This happens because Windows occasionally resets default apps during major updates. If this happens to you, just follow the Windows steps above again — it takes the same amount of time.

On Mac and Android, your default browser choice usually stays in place through updates. If it changes unexpectedly, check whether you recently installed a new browser — some browsers ask to be set as default during installation, and you may have clicked yes without noticing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will making Chrome my default browser delete my other browsers?

No. Setting Chrome as default only changes which browser opens when you click a link. All your other browsers stay installed and you can still open them manually whenever you want.

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

No. Your operating system only allows one default browser. All links will open in whichever browser you set as default, whether they come from email, text messages, or apps.

What if my workplace or school has locked the default browser setting?

Your IT administrator has restricted this setting for security or policy reasons. Contact your IT department or help desk and explain that you need Chrome set as default — they can change it for you or explain whether it is allowed.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing the default browser?

No. The change takes effect immediately on all devices. You do not need to close Chrome, restart your computer, or do anything else — just change the setting and you are done.

Why does Edge keep opening instead of Chrome even though I set Chrome as default?

Windows sometimes resets your default browser after a major update. Go back to Chrome settings, click Default browser, and click Make default again. If this keeps happening, check whether Windows Update recently installed a new version.