Setting Chrome as your default browser on Windows, Mac, or Android

To make Google Chrome your default browser, you open Chrome's settings, find the "Default browser" section, and click the button to set it as default. The exact steps depend on whether you're using Windows, Mac, or Android, but the process takes less than a minute on any device. Once you've set Chrome as default, links you click in emails, documents, or other apps will open in Chrome instead of whatever browser you're currently using.

Your operating system controls which browser opens by default — not the browser itself. This means you're telling Windows, Mac, or Android to use Chrome, and the system remembers that choice until you change it again.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Chrome settings, click "Default browser" on the left, then click "Make default" — Windows will ask you to confirm the change.
  • On Mac, open Chrome settings, click "Default browser" on the left, then click "Make Google Chrome the default browser" — Mac will ask you to confirm.
  • On Android, open Chrome settings, tap "Apps," then "Default apps," find "Browser app," and select Chrome from the list.
  • Once Chrome is set as default, all links from emails, texts, and other apps will open in Chrome instead of your previous browser.
  • You can change your default browser back at any time by following the same steps and selecting a different browser.

How to set Chrome as default on Windows 10 or 11

Open Google Chrome and click the three vertical dots in the top right corner. From the menu that appears, click "Settings." On the left side of the screen, you'll see a list of options — click "Default browser."

On the right side, you'll see a blue button that says "Make default." Click it. Windows will open a small window asking you to confirm — this is Windows asking permission to change your default browser. Click "Yes" or "Switch anyway" (the exact wording depends on your Windows version). Chrome is now your default browser, and Windows will remember this choice.

If the "Make default" button is grayed out or doesn't appear, your system may have restrictions that prevent you from changing the default browser. This sometimes happens on work or school computers. Contact your IT department or system administrator if you need to change it.

How to set Chrome as default on Mac

Open Google Chrome and click "Chrome" in the top menu bar (the very top left of your screen). From the dropdown menu, click "Settings." On the left side, click "Default browser."

You'll see a button that says "Make Google Chrome the default browser." Click it. Mac will open a dialog asking you to confirm the change — click "OK." Chrome is now your default browser on your Mac.

If you don't see the "Make Google Chrome the default browser" button, Chrome may already be set as your default. You can check by opening System Preferences, clicking "General," and looking at the "Default web browser" dropdown — if Chrome is listed there, it's already your default.

How to set Chrome as default on Android phones and tablets

Open the Chrome app and tap the three vertical dots in the bottom right corner. Tap "Settings." Scroll down and tap "Apps," then tap "Default apps."

You'll see a list of app categories. Tap "Browser app." A list of browsers installed on your device will appear — tap "Chrome." Android will confirm that Chrome is now your default browser. Any link you tap in Gmail, text messages, or other apps will now open in Chrome.

If you don't see "Default apps" in your settings, your Android version may be older. Instead, go to your device's main Settings app, tap "Apps," find Chrome, tap "Set as default," and follow the prompts.

What happens after you change your default browser

Once Chrome is set as default, every link you click outside of a web browser will open in Chrome. This includes links in emails, text messages, social media apps, documents, and anywhere else a link appears on your device.

Your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history stay in Chrome — changing the default browser doesn't affect any of your saved information. If you switch back to a different browser later, all your Chrome data remains in Chrome and won't move to the other browser.

Changing your default browser back to something else

If you want to switch your default browser back to Edge, Firefox, Safari, or any other browser, follow the same steps you used to set Chrome as default, but select the other browser instead. On Windows and Mac, open that browser's settings and look for "Default browser." On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Browser app and select the browser you want.

You can change your default browser as many times as you want. There's no penalty or restriction for switching — your operating system simply remembers whichever browser you set most recently.

Troubleshooting: Chrome won't set as default

If you click "Make default" but Chrome doesn't stay as your default browser, your computer or network may have restrictions in place. Work computers, school devices, and some managed networks prevent users from changing system settings. If this is your device, contact your IT support or system administrator.

On Windows, try restarting your computer after clicking "Make default" — sometimes the change doesn't take effect until you restart. On Mac, make sure you're logged in with an administrator account; if you're using a standard user account, you may not have permission to change system settings.

If you're on Android and Chrome won't stay as default, check that you have the latest version of Chrome installed. Open the Google Play Store, search for Chrome, and tap "Update" if an update is available. After updating, try setting Chrome as default again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default browser delete my history or passwords from my old browser?

No. Changing your default browser doesn't touch any data in your old browser. Your bookmarks, passwords, and history stay exactly where they are. If you want to move that information to Chrome, you can import it — Chrome has an import feature in its settings that can pull bookmarks and passwords from other browsers.

Can I have more than one default browser?

No. Your operating system allows only one default browser at a time. However, you can have multiple browsers installed and switch between them manually — you just can't have two set as default simultaneously. You can change which one is default whenever you want.

If I set Chrome as default on my phone, does it change on my computer too?

No. Each device has its own default browser setting. Setting Chrome as default on your Android phone doesn't change anything on your Windows PC or Mac. You need to set the default separately on each device.

What if I only want certain links to open in Chrome, not all of them?

Your operating system doesn't offer that level of control — the default browser setting applies to all links. However, you can always manually open a link in a different browser by right-clicking it and selecting "Open with" or "Open in," then choosing the browser you want.

Does setting Chrome as default slow down my computer?

No. Changing your default browser doesn't affect your computer's speed or performance. It only changes which app opens when you click a link — it doesn't install anything new or use extra resources.