Setting Chrome as your default browser takes three steps in System Settings

Open System Settings, go to the General section, find Default web browser, and select Google Chrome from the dropdown menu. That's the entire process. Once you do this, any link you click in email, documents, or other apps will open in Chrome instead of Safari (which is the Mac default).

The steps below walk you through exactly where to find each setting. The process is the same whether you're on an Intel Mac or an Apple Silicon Mac, and it works on macOS Ventura, Sonoma, and Sequoia.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Mac comes with Safari as the default browser, but you can change it to Chrome through System Settings in about one minute.
  • Chrome must be installed on your Mac before you can set it as default — if you haven't downloaded it yet, get it from google.com/chrome.
  • Changing the default browser affects links opened from Mail, Messages, Notes, and any other app on your Mac.
  • You can change your default browser back to Safari or switch to a different browser at any time using the same System Settings menu.

Step-by-step: Making Chrome your default browser

Start by opening System Settings. You can do this by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then selecting System Settings, or by using Spotlight search (press Command + Space, type "System Settings", and press Enter).

Once System Settings is open, click General in the left sidebar. Then scroll down until you see "Default web browser" — it will show Safari with a dropdown arrow next to it. Click that dropdown menu and select Google Chrome from the list. Close System Settings. You're done.

The change takes effect immediately. The next time you click a link in Mail, Messages, or any other app, it will open in Chrome instead of Safari. You don't need to restart your Mac or log out for this to work.

What happens after you change the default

Any link you click outside of a web browser will now open in Chrome. This includes links in Mail, Messages, Notes, Slack, Discord, PDFs, and any other app on your Mac. Bookmarks you've saved in Safari will still be in Safari — changing the default browser doesn't move your data or delete anything.

If you have multiple user accounts on your Mac, each account has its own default browser setting. Changing it for one account doesn't affect the others. Each person who uses your Mac can have their own preferred default browser.

If Chrome isn't showing up in the dropdown menu

Chrome must be installed on your Mac before it appears in the default browser list. If you don't see it in the dropdown, download Chrome from google.com/chrome, run the installer, and move the Chrome app to your Applications folder. Then go back to System Settings and try again.

After you install Chrome, you may need to restart your Mac or log out and back in before it appears in the default browser dropdown. If it still doesn't show up, try opening Chrome once to make sure the installation completed fully, then return to System Settings. This usually resolves the issue.

Switching back to Safari or choosing a different browser

You can change your default browser at any time using the same System Settings menu. Go back to System Settings > General > Default web browser and select Safari, Firefox, Edge, or any other browser you have installed. Your choice takes effect immediately without requiring a restart.

Changing the default browser doesn't uninstall anything or delete your browsing history. All your browsers remain on your Mac with all their data intact — you're just changing which one opens when you click a link outside a browser window.

Why your Mac has a default browser setting

Your Mac needs to know which browser to use when you click a link in an email or document, because you might have multiple browsers installed. Without a default, your Mac wouldn't know whether to open Chrome, Safari, Firefox, or another option. The default browser setting tells your Mac which one to choose automatically.

Apple sets Safari as the default on new Macs because Safari is built into macOS and optimized for Apple hardware. You can override this choice and pick whichever browser you prefer to use most often. This is your choice to make, not something Apple forces you to keep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the default browser affect my Safari bookmarks or history?

No. Your Safari bookmarks, history, passwords, and all other data stay in Safari. Changing the default browser only changes which app opens when you click a link outside a browser. Safari remains on your Mac with everything intact.

Do I need to restart my Mac after changing the default browser?

No. The change takes effect immediately after you close System Settings. The next link you click will open in Chrome. You don't need to restart or log out.

Can I set a different default browser for different types of links?

No. macOS only allows one default browser for all links. If you want to use Chrome for most links but Safari for others, you would need to manually choose which browser to use each time, or use browser extensions that redirect specific sites.

What if I want to open a link in Safari even though Chrome is my default?

Right-click the link and select "Open Link in Safari" from the menu. You can also copy the link, open Safari, and paste it in the address bar. This works for any browser — you can always choose a different one for a single link.

Does Chrome need to be running for it to open links?

No. Chrome doesn't need to be open already. When you click a link, macOS will launch Chrome automatically if it's not running. The link will open in a new window or tab depending on your Chrome settings.