Setting Chrome as your default browser in three steps

Your default browser is the program that opens when you click a link in an email, a document, or anywhere else on your computer or phone. To make Google Chrome your default, you tell your operating system to use Chrome for all web links. The exact steps depend on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android — each has a different settings menu — but the process takes less than a minute on any device.

You do not need to uninstall your current browser first. You can have multiple browsers installed; changing the default just means Chrome will be the one that automatically opens links.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Chrome, click the menu button (three vertical dots), select Settings, then choose Chrome as your default browser in the left sidebar under "Default browser".
  • On Mac, open Chrome, click Chrome in the top menu bar, select Settings, then click Default browser and confirm the change.
  • On Android, open Settings, go to Apps, select Default apps, choose Browser app, and select Chrome from the list.
  • On iPhone, open Settings, scroll to Chrome, tap Default Browser App, and select Chrome.
  • If you do not see a "Set as default" button, your browser may already be the default, or your operating system version may not support changing defaults.

Setting Chrome as default on Windows 10 and 11

Open Google Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. From the menu that appears, select Settings. On the left side of the Settings page, click Default browser. You will see a blue button that says "Make default" or "Set as default" — click it.

Windows will ask you to confirm. A small window may pop up asking "Open with" and showing Chrome as an option. Click Chrome to confirm. After this, any link you click in email, documents, or web pages will open in Chrome instead of your previous default browser.

If you do not see the "Make default" button, Chrome may already be your default browser. You can check by opening Windows Settings (press the Windows key and type "Settings"), then going to Apps > Default apps > Web browser. The name shown there is your current default.

Setting Chrome as default on Mac

Open Google Chrome. In the top menu bar, click Chrome (the word itself, not a menu within Chrome). From the dropdown menu, select Settings. On the left sidebar, click Default browser. You will see a button that says "Make Google Chrome the default browser" — click it.

Mac will ask you to confirm by showing a dialog box. Click the button to confirm, and Chrome becomes your default. From that point on, links opened from Mail, Messages, or any other app will use Chrome.

If you want to check which browser is currently set as default on Mac without opening Chrome, go to System Settings (the gear icon), click General, then Default web browser. The name shown there is your current default.

Setting Chrome as default on Android phones

Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Scroll down and tap Apps (sometimes labeled "Applications" or "App management" depending on your phone model). Look for Default apps and tap it. You will see a list of app categories; tap Browser app. A list of installed browsers will appear — tap Chrome to set it as your default.

Some Android phones organize this differently. If you do not see "Default apps" under Apps, try going to Settings > System > Default apps instead. The location varies by manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.), but the option exists on all Android phones running version 6.0 or later.

Setting 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 Chrome. At the top of the Chrome settings page, tap Default Browser App. A list of available browsers will appear — tap Chrome to confirm.

After you set Chrome as default, links in Mail, Messages, Safari, and other apps will open in Chrome. This setting applies to your entire phone, not just individual apps.

What happens after you change your default browser

Once Chrome is set as default, any link you click outside of Chrome will open in Chrome instead of your previous browser. This includes links in email, text messages, social media apps, documents, and web pages. Your old browser remains installed and you can still open it manually if you want to use it for a specific task.

Changing your default browser does not delete your history, bookmarks, or passwords in any other browser. Each browser keeps its own data separate. If you later decide to switch back to a different default browser, you can repeat these same steps with that browser instead.

Troubleshooting: Chrome is not showing as an option

If Chrome does not appear in your list of browsers when you try to set a default, the most common reason is that Chrome is not installed on your device. Download Chrome from google.com/chrome and install it, then repeat the steps above.

On some older versions of Windows (Windows 7 or earlier) or Mac (macOS 10.12 or earlier), the option to change default browsers may not exist or may work differently. If you are using an older operating system and do not see a "Make default" button, your system may not support this feature. You can still use Chrome by opening it manually, but you cannot set it as the automatic default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default browser delete my bookmarks or history?

No. Your bookmarks, history, and passwords stay in whichever browser they were saved in. Changing your default browser only changes which program opens when you click a link — it does not move or delete any data. If you want to use your bookmarks from another browser in Chrome, you can import them through Chrome's Settings menu under "Import bookmarks and settings".

Can I have multiple default browsers?

No. Your operating system allows only one default browser at a time. However, you can keep multiple browsers installed and switch between them. You can open any browser manually whenever you want, even if it is not the default.

What if I change my mind and want to switch back?

You can change your default browser as many times as you want. Just follow the same steps with whichever browser you want to use instead. There is no limit to how many times you can switch.

Does setting Chrome as default make it faster?

No. Your default browser setting only controls which browser opens automatically when you click a link. It does not change how fast Chrome runs or how it performs. Chrome's speed depends on your internet connection and your device's hardware, not on whether it is set as default.

Why does my phone keep asking me which browser to use?

This usually means no default browser is set, or your default setting was cleared. Go back to your Settings app and follow the steps to set Chrome as default again. If it keeps asking even after you set a default, try restarting your phone.