Set Chrome as your default browser in System Settings
To make Chrome your default browser on Mac, you need to change one setting in your System Settings. This tells your Mac to open web links and websites in Chrome instead of Safari or whatever browser is currently set as default.
Open System Settings by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select "System Settings". In the sidebar on the left, scroll down and click "Default apps". Look for the "Web browser" row and click the dropdown menu next to it. Select "Google Chrome" from the list.
That's it — Chrome is now your default browser. Any link you click in Mail, Messages, or other apps will open in Chrome from now on. If you ever want to switch back to Safari or another browser, you follow the same steps and pick a different option from that dropdown.
Key Takeaways
- Your default browser setting controls which app opens when you click a web link in Mail, Messages, or other programs.
- You change the default browser in System Settings under "Default apps" in the "Web browser" row.
- Changing your default browser does not uninstall Safari or remove it from your Mac — it just changes which one launches automatically.
- You can switch your default browser back to Safari or to a different browser at any time using the same System Settings menu.
Why your Mac has a default browser setting
Your Mac needs to know which browser to use when you click a link outside of a browser window. If you receive a link in an email, click a link in a document, or tap a web address in a text message, your Mac launches whatever browser you have set as default. Without this setting, your Mac would not know which of your installed browsers to open.
macOS comes with Safari as the default browser. If you prefer Chrome and want it to open automatically whenever you click a link, you change this setting. The change only affects what launches automatically — it does not delete Safari or prevent you from opening Safari manually whenever you want.
What happens after you change your default browser
Once Chrome is set as default, clicking any web link outside of a browser will open Chrome. This includes links in Mail, Messages, Notes, PDF files, Word documents, and any other app on your Mac. If Chrome is already running, the link opens in a new tab. If Chrome is closed, macOS launches Chrome first and then opens the link.
Your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords in Safari remain untouched. Changing your default browser does not move or copy anything from one browser to another. If you open Safari manually, it works exactly as before — the default setting only controls what launches automatically when you click a link.
Switching your default browser back to Safari
If you decide you want Safari as your default browser again, follow the same steps: open System Settings, click "Default apps" in the sidebar, find the "Web browser" row, and click the dropdown. Select "Safari" instead of Chrome. Your Mac will immediately start opening links in Safari.
You can switch between browsers as often as you want. There is no limit to how many times you can change this setting, and changing it does not affect your data or settings in either browser. Both Chrome and Safari will continue to work normally on your Mac regardless of which one is set as default.
If Chrome does not appear in the Default apps menu
If you open System Settings and Chrome is not listed in the "Web browser" dropdown, Chrome may not be installed on your Mac yet. Download Chrome from Google's website, install it, and then return to System Settings. After Chrome is installed, it will appear in the dropdown menu.
If Chrome is installed but still does not appear in the dropdown, try restarting your Mac. Sometimes a newly installed app does not show up in the System Settings menu until your Mac has restarted. After restarting, open System Settings again and check the "Web browser" dropdown.
Making Chrome default does not affect other browsers
Setting Chrome as your default browser does not uninstall Safari, Firefox, Edge, or any other browser on your Mac. All of your installed browsers remain on your computer and continue to work normally. You can still open Safari by clicking its icon in the Dock or Applications folder, and you can still use it to browse the web whenever you want.
The default browser setting only controls what launches automatically when you click a link. It does not prevent you from using other browsers, and it does not change how those browsers work. If you want to use Safari for a particular website or task, you can open Safari manually and use it just as you always have.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing my default browser delete my Safari bookmarks or history?
No. Changing your default browser does not affect Safari or any other browser on your Mac. Your bookmarks, history, passwords, and all other data in Safari remain exactly as they are. The default setting only controls which browser launches when you click a link outside of a browser window.
Can I set a different default browser for different types of links?
No. macOS allows you to set only one default browser for all web links. You cannot set Chrome as default for some links and Safari for others. However, you can always open any browser manually and use it for specific tasks whenever you want.
What if I want to open a link in Safari even though Chrome is my default?
You can right-click the link and select "Open Link in Safari" from the menu. This opens that specific link in Safari without changing your default browser setting. Chrome remains your default for all other links you click.
Do I need to restart my Mac after changing my default browser?
No. The change takes effect immediately. Any link you click after changing the setting will open in your new default browser right away. You only need to restart if a newly installed browser does not appear in the System Settings menu.
Can I change my default browser back to Safari if I change my mind?
Yes. Open System Settings, go to "Default apps", click the "Web browser" dropdown, and select "Safari". You can switch between browsers as many times as you want, and there is no penalty for changing your mind.