Setting Chrome as your default browser on Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS

Making Chrome your default browser means that when you click a link in an email, document, or app, Chrome opens automatically instead of Edge, Safari, or whatever browser came with your device. The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, Android, or iPhone, but the process takes less than a minute on each.

On Windows and Mac, you change the default in your system settings, not in Chrome itself. On Android and iPhone, the process is similar — you go to the phone's settings, not the Chrome app. This matters because if you only look in Chrome's menu, you won't find the option.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps > Default apps, find your current browser, and select Chrome from the list that appears.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click General, select Default web browser, and choose Google Chrome from the dropdown.
  • On Android, open Settings, tap Apps, select your current default browser, and change it to Chrome in the app settings.
  • On iPhone, open Settings, scroll down to Chrome, tap Default Browser App, and select Chrome.
  • Your choice sticks across all apps on that device — you do not need to set it again unless you change your mind.

How to set Chrome as default on Windows 10 and 11

Open the Settings app (press the Windows key and type "Settings"). Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Default apps.

Scroll down until you see your current default browser — usually Edge or Internet Explorer. Click on it. A menu will pop up showing all the browsers installed on your computer. Click Google Chrome. Windows will confirm the change immediately, and you are done.

If you do not see Chrome in the list, it means Chrome is not installed. You would need to download and install it from google.com/chrome first. Once installed, 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 (or System Preferences on older versions). Click General in the sidebar.

Look for Default web browser near the bottom of the window. Click the dropdown menu next to it — it probably shows Safari right now. Select Google Chrome from the list. The change takes effect immediately.

How to set Chrome as default on Android

Open the Settings app on your phone. Scroll down and tap Apps (the exact name varies by phone maker — it might say "Application Manager" or "Manage apps").

Find your current default browser in the list — often Chrome, Samsung Internet, or Firefox. Tap it to open its settings. Look for a button or option that says Set as default or Default app. Tap it, then select Chrome from the list that appears.

Some Android phones also let you set the default browser directly from Settings > Apps > Default apps, similar to Windows. If you see that option, use it — it is faster.

How to set Chrome as default on iPhone

Open the Settings app. Scroll down until you see Chrome in the list of apps (you may need to scroll quite far). Tap it.

Tap Default Browser App. A list of browsers will appear. Select Chrome. The change is immediate, and from that point on, links will open in Chrome by default.

What happens after you set Chrome as default

Once Chrome is your default, every link you click in email, text messages, social media, documents, and other apps will open in Chrome. This applies across your entire device — you do not need to do anything else or change settings in individual apps.

If you change your mind later, you can switch back to Safari, Edge, Firefox, or any other browser by following the same steps and selecting a different browser at the end. Your choice is not permanent.

Why you might want a different default browser

Chrome is fast and syncs your bookmarks and passwords across devices if you sign in with a Google account. But some people prefer Safari on Mac and iPhone because it integrates with Apple's ecosystem and uses less battery. Others use Firefox for privacy reasons, or Edge because it comes pre-installed on Windows and works well with Microsoft accounts.

There is no single "best" choice — it depends on what matters to you. The good news is that you can change your default browser anytime, so you can try Chrome and switch back if you prefer something else.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default browser delete my bookmarks in the old one?

No. Your bookmarks, passwords, and history stay in whatever browser you were using before. Changing the default only affects which browser opens when you click a link. You can still open your old browser anytime and access everything in it.

Do I need to uninstall my old browser to use Chrome as default?

No. You can have multiple browsers installed on your device at the same time. Setting Chrome as default just means it opens automatically — you can still use Edge, Safari, or Firefox whenever you want by opening them manually.

Why does my phone keep opening links in the old browser even after I changed the default?

Some apps ignore the system default and open links in their own built-in browser. This is common with Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. You can usually fix it by going into that app's settings and looking for an option like "Open links in" or "External browser" and selecting Chrome there.

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

No. Your device has one system-wide default browser, and all links use it. You cannot set Chrome as default for work emails and Safari for everything else. You would have to manually choose which browser to use each time.