Setting Chrome as your default browser
To make Chrome your default browser, you open your computer's or phone's settings and tell it to use Chrome for all web links. The exact steps depend on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android — each operating system stores this setting in a different place. Once you change it, any link you click outside of an app (in an email, a document, or a text message) will open in Chrome instead of whatever browser was set before.
You do not need to uninstall your other browsers or change any Chrome settings. The default browser setting lives in your operating system, not in Chrome itself. You can change it back anytime.
Key Takeaways
- On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps > Default Apps, find your current browser, and select Chrome from the list.
- On Mac, open Chrome, click Chrome in the menu bar, select Settings, go to Default Browser, and click Make Default.
- On iPhone, open Settings, scroll to Chrome, tap Default Browser App, and select Chrome.
- On Android, open Settings, go to Apps and Notifications, select your current default browser, tap Open by Default, and choose Chrome.
- The change takes effect immediately and does not affect your other installed browsers.
Setting Chrome as default on 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 your current default browser listed (it might say Microsoft Edge, Firefox, or another name). Click on it, and a menu will appear showing all installed browsers. Select Google Chrome from the list. Windows will confirm the change immediately, and you are done.
If you do not see Chrome in the menu, it means Chrome is not installed on your computer. You would need to download and install it from google.com/chrome first.
Setting Chrome as default on Mac
Open Chrome by clicking its icon in the Dock or Applications folder. Click Chrome in the menu bar at the top of the screen (next to the Apple logo), then select Settings.
In the left sidebar, click Default Browser. You will see a button that says Make Default. Click it. Mac will ask Chrome to confirm, and the change is complete. You can close the Settings tab.
Setting Chrome as default on iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone (the gray gear icon on your home screen). Scroll down until you find Chrome in the list of apps — you may need to scroll quite far, as apps are listed alphabetically.
Tap Chrome, then tap Default Browser App. Select Chrome from the options shown. The setting saves automatically, and you can close Settings.
If you do not see Chrome in the Settings list, it is not installed. You can download it free from the App Store.
Setting Chrome as default on Android
Open the Settings app on your Android phone (usually a gear icon). Scroll down and tap Apps and Notifications or Apps, depending on your phone model.
Find your current default browser in the list — it might say Chrome, Samsung Internet, Firefox, or another name. Tap it, then look for a button or option that says Open by Default or Default Apps. Tap that option, then select Chrome. The change takes effect right away.
On some Android phones, the path is slightly different: open Settings, tap Default Apps directly, find the browser category, and select Chrome. If you cannot find these options, search "default browser" in your phone's Settings search bar.
What happens after you change the default
Once Chrome is set as default, any link you click in email, text messages, documents, or other apps will open in Chrome. If Chrome is not already running, it will start automatically. Your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords stay exactly as they were.
Changing the default does not delete or affect your other browsers. Firefox, Edge, Safari, and any other browser you have installed will still work normally — they just will not open automatically when you click a link. You can still open them manually anytime.
If you change your mind later, you can switch back to a different default browser by following the same steps and selecting a different browser at the end.
Troubleshooting: Chrome does not appear as an option
If Chrome is not showing up in your default browser menu, it is not installed on your device. Download it from google.com/chrome on a computer, or from the App Store (iPhone) or Google Play Store (Android) on a phone. Once installation finishes, follow the steps above to set it as default.
On Windows, if Chrome appears in the list but clicking it does not work, try restarting your computer. On Mac, make sure you are running a recent version of Chrome — click Chrome in the menu bar and select About Google Chrome to check for updates.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the default browser delete my history or bookmarks in other browsers?
No. Changing the default browser setting only tells your operating system which browser to open when you click a link. Your other browsers, their history, bookmarks, and passwords remain untouched. You can still open them manually anytime.
Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?
No. Your operating system allows only one default browser for all web links. However, you can manually choose which browser to use each time — right-click a link and select "Open with" on Windows or Mac to pick a specific browser.
What if I want to switch back to a different default browser later?
Follow the same steps you used to set Chrome as default, but select a different browser at the end. The change takes effect immediately. You can switch back and forth as many times as you want.
Does setting Chrome as default cost anything?
No. Chrome is free to download and use. Changing your default browser setting is also free and does not require any account or payment.
Will Chrome automatically update after I set it as default?
Yes. Chrome checks for updates automatically and installs them in the background. You do not need to do anything — updates happen whether or not Chrome is your default browser.