How to change your default browser on Mac
Open System Settings, go to General, then Default Web Browser, and pick the browser you want from the dropdown menu. That's the entire process — it takes about 30 seconds. Your Mac will now open links from Mail, Messages, Spotlight, and other apps in whichever browser you selected instead of Safari.
The steps are the same whether you're switching to Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, or any other browser you have installed. The browser you choose must already be on your Mac; you can't set a browser as default if it isn't there.
Key Takeaways
- Your default browser is the one that opens automatically when you click a link in Mail, Messages, or other apps — changing it doesn't uninstall Safari or affect anything else.
- The setting lives in System Settings under General, then Default Web Browser, and you can change it back anytime in the same place.
- The browser you want to set as default must already be installed on your Mac; the dropdown only shows browsers that exist on your computer.
- Changing your default browser does not change your search engine — those are separate settings inside each browser's own preferences.
- If you don't see your browser in the dropdown, restart your Mac and check again, as newly installed browsers sometimes need a restart to appear.
Step-by-step: Setting a new default browser
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. On the left sidebar, click General. Scroll down until you see "Default Web Browser" — it will show Safari by default if you haven't changed it yet.
Click the dropdown menu next to "Default Web Browser." You'll see a list of every browser currently installed on your Mac. Select the one you want, and you're done. The change takes effect immediately.
If the browser you want isn't in the list, it either isn't installed on your Mac or your Mac hasn't recognized it yet. Restart your computer and try again — newly installed browsers sometimes need a restart to show up in this menu.
What actually changes when you set a default browser
Your default browser is the app that opens when you click a link in Mail, Messages, Notes, Slack, or any other app that isn't a web browser itself. It's also what opens when you click a link in a search result or in a document. Setting a new default browser changes only that behavior — it doesn't delete Safari, uninstall anything, or affect your bookmarks or passwords.
Your default browser and your default search engine are two separate things. You can use Chrome as your default browser but keep Google as your search engine, or use Firefox as your browser with DuckDuckGo as your search engine. Search engine settings live inside each browser's own preferences, not in System Settings.
Why you might want to change your default browser
Some people prefer Chrome because it syncs across devices and integrates with Google services. Others choose Firefox for privacy features or because they want to avoid Google's ecosystem. Edge works well if you use Microsoft services like Outlook or OneDrive. Opera includes a built-in VPN and ad blocker. The right choice depends on what matters to you — speed, privacy, integration with services you already use, or specific features.
You don't have to pick one browser and stick with it forever. You can install multiple browsers and switch your default whenever you want. Many people keep Safari for everyday use and switch to a different browser for specific tasks.
If your preferred browser doesn't appear in the dropdown
The dropdown only shows browsers that are installed in your Applications folder. If you downloaded a browser but it's still in your Downloads folder, move it to Applications first. Then restart your Mac — newly installed apps sometimes need a restart before macOS recognizes them.
If you've already moved the browser to Applications and restarted, but it still doesn't appear, try opening the browser directly from Applications to make sure it launches without errors. Some browsers need to complete their setup process before they can be set as default.
Switching back to Safari or changing browsers again
You can change your default browser as many times as you want using the same System Settings menu. If you decide you want Safari back as your default, open System Settings, go to General, click the Default Web Browser dropdown, and select Safari. The change is instant.
There's no limit to how many times you can switch, and changing your default browser doesn't affect any of your other settings, bookmarks, or passwords in any browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my default browser delete Safari?
No. Changing your default browser only changes which app opens when you click a link from other apps. Safari stays on your Mac and works exactly as before. You can still open Safari manually anytime you want.
Will my bookmarks and passwords move to my new default browser?
Not automatically. Each browser stores its own bookmarks and passwords separately. If you want to move them, you'll need to import them inside your new browser's settings — most browsers have an import option that can pull data from Safari or other browsers.
Can I set different default browsers for different apps?
No. macOS only lets you set one default browser for the entire system. All apps that open links will use whichever browser you set as default. You can still open other browsers manually whenever you want.
What if I change my default browser and links still open in Safari?
Restart your Mac. Sometimes the change doesn't take effect until you restart. If it still opens in Safari after a restart, go back to System Settings and confirm your chosen browser is still selected in the Default Web Browser dropdown.
Does my search engine change when I change my default browser?
No. Your search engine is a separate setting inside each browser's preferences. You can use Chrome as your default browser but keep DuckDuckGo as your search engine, or any other combination. Change your search engine inside the browser's own settings, not in System Settings.