Chrome becomes your default browser through System Settings, not through Chrome itself

To make Chrome your default browser on Mac, you open System Settings, navigate to the General section, find Default web browser, and select Google Chrome from the dropdown menu. This takes about 30 seconds. macOS does not let you set a default browser from within Chrome — the setting lives in the operating system instead, which is why many people search for it in the wrong place.

Once you make this change, links you click in Mail, Messages, Notes, and other apps will open in Chrome instead of Safari (or whatever browser was previously set). The change takes effect immediately and applies to your entire user account.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, click General in the sidebar, scroll to Default web browser, and choose Google Chrome from the dropdown menu.
  • macOS requires you to change this setting in System Settings, not in Chrome's preferences or settings.
  • The change applies only to your user account, so other people who use the same Mac will keep their own default browser.
  • If Chrome does not appear in the dropdown, make sure Chrome is installed and has been opened at least once.

Step-by-step instructions for macOS Sonoma and newer

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. In the sidebar on the left, click General. Scroll down until you see Default web browser — it will show your current default (usually Safari on a new Mac).

Click the dropdown menu next to Default web browser. A list of installed browsers appears. Select Google Chrome. The change saves automatically, and you can close System Settings.

If Chrome does not appear in the list, the browser may not be installed or may not have been opened yet. Download Chrome from google.com/chrome, install it, open it once, then return to System Settings and try again.

What happens after you change the default

Any link you click in Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, or other Apple apps will now open in Chrome instead of Safari. If you click a link in a document or email and Chrome is not running, macOS will launch it automatically.

This does not affect links you click within Safari or other browsers — those still open in the browser you are already using. It also does not change which browser opens when you restart your Mac or log in.

How to switch back to Safari or another browser

Return to System Settings, click General, scroll to Default web browser, and select Safari or whichever browser you want instead. The change takes effect immediately. You can switch your default browser as many times as you want — there is no limit or penalty.

If you want to use different browsers for different tasks (Chrome for work, Safari for personal browsing), you can still do that by opening the browser you want and clicking links within it. The default setting only controls what happens when you click a link outside of a browser.

Older versions of macOS (Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura)

The process is identical in macOS Big Sur, Monterey, and Ventura. Open System Settings (or System Preferences in Big Sur), click General, find Default web browser, and select Chrome from the dropdown. The menu location and appearance are the same across these versions.

If you are running an older version of macOS and cannot find the Default web browser setting, your version may not support changing the default browser through System Settings. Check your macOS version by clicking the Apple menu and selecting About This Mac — if you are running Catalina or earlier, you may need to update your operating system to change the default browser.

Why Chrome might not appear in the dropdown

Chrome must be installed on your Mac and must have been opened at least once before it shows up in the Default web browser dropdown. If you just downloaded Chrome but have not launched it yet, open Chrome from your Applications folder, let it finish starting up, then return to System Settings.

If Chrome is installed and has been opened but still does not appear, try restarting your Mac. Sometimes the system needs to refresh its list of available browsers. After restarting, open System Settings again and check the dropdown.

Setting a default browser for a specific user account

Each user account on your Mac can have its own default browser. If multiple people use the same Mac, each person can log into their own account and set their own default. Changes made by one user do not affect the others.

To set a default browser for a different user account, that person needs to log into their account, open System Settings, and follow the same steps. There is no way for one user to change another user's default browser settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does setting Chrome as default make it open automatically when I turn on my Mac?

No. Setting Chrome as your default browser only affects links you click in other apps like Mail or Messages. It does not change which apps launch at startup. If you want Chrome to open when you log in, you need to add it separately through System Settings > General > Login Items.

Will changing my default browser affect my bookmarks or passwords?

No. Your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history stay in Chrome regardless of whether it is your default browser. Changing the default setting only controls which browser opens when you click a link outside of a browser.

Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?

No. macOS allows only one default browser per user account. All links you click in other apps will open in that one browser. If you want to use different browsers for different purposes, you can open them manually and click links within each one.

What if I accidentally set the wrong browser as default?

You can change it back anytime. Open System Settings, click General, find Default web browser, and select the correct browser from the dropdown. There is no waiting period or confirmation required — the change takes effect immediately.