Set Safari as your default browser in System Settings

On a Mac, open System Settings and go to General in the left sidebar. Scroll down to find Default web browser and click the dropdown menu. Select Safari from the list. That's the entire process — any link you click in Mail, Messages, Notes, or other apps will now open in Safari instead of whatever browser was set before.

The setting takes effect immediately. You don't need to restart your Mac or close any open apps. If you ever want to change it back, the same menu is where you'll go.

Set Safari as your default browser on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone or iPad, open Settings and scroll down past the list of apps until you find Safari. Tap it, then tap Default Browser App. Select Safari from the list that appears. The change applies right away.

This setting controls which browser opens when you tap links in Mail, Messages, Notes, or any other app on your device. It does not affect which search engine Safari uses — that's a separate setting inside Safari itself under Settings > Safari > Search Engine.

Key Takeaways

  • On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Default web browser and select Safari from the dropdown.
  • On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Safari > Default Browser App and choose Safari.
  • The change takes effect immediately and applies to all links opened from other apps.
  • Changing your default browser does not change your search engine — those are two separate settings.
  • You can switch back to a different default browser at any time using the same menu.

What happens after you set Safari as default

Once Safari is your default browser, links in Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Calendar, and other built-in Apple apps will open in Safari. Links in third-party apps like Slack, Discord, or Reddit will also open in Safari unless those apps have their own built-in browser.

This does not prevent you from using other browsers. You can still open Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or any other browser manually and use it whenever you want. Setting a default browser only changes what happens when you tap a link — it doesn't remove your other browsers or force you to use Safari for everything.

Your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history in other browsers remain exactly where they are. Changing your default browser doesn't move or delete anything from Chrome, Firefox, or any other app you have installed.

Changing your default browser back

If you decide you want a different browser as your default, the process is identical. Go back to the same menu — System Settings > General > Default web browser on Mac, or Settings > Safari > Default Browser App on iPhone — and select a different browser from the list.

You can change your default browser as many times as you want. There's no limit, no waiting period, and no penalty for switching back and forth. Some people switch their default depending on what they're doing or which device they're using.

Why you might want Safari as your default

Safari is built into every Mac, iPhone, and iPad, so it's always available without downloading anything. It integrates tightly with other Apple apps — your bookmarks, reading list, and iCloud Tabs sync across all your devices automatically. If you use an Apple device and want a browser that works seamlessly with your other apps, Safari is designed for that.

Safari also tends to use less battery on iPhone and iPad than some other browsers, since it uses Apple's built-in rendering engine rather than a separate one. If battery life matters to you, that's worth considering. The browser also respects Apple's privacy settings across your device, so your tracking prevention and privacy settings work consistently.

If you can't find the default browser setting

On Mac, make sure you're running macOS Sonoma or newer. Older versions of macOS don't have a system-wide default browser setting — you would need to change the default in each app individually. Check your macOS version by clicking the Apple menu in the top left, selecting About This Mac, and looking at the version number.

On iPhone or iPad, the setting appeared in iOS 14 and later. If you're running an older version, you won't see the Default Browser App option. You can check your iOS version in Settings > General > About. If you're on an older version and want to use Safari as your default, you may need to update your device first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will setting Safari as default remove my other browsers?

No. Setting Safari as your default browser only changes what happens when you tap a link in another app. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and any other browsers you've installed will remain on your device and you can open them manually whenever you want.

Does changing my default browser affect my bookmarks or passwords?

No. Your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history stay in whichever browser they were saved in. Changing your default browser doesn't move or delete anything. If you switch from Chrome to Safari as your default, your Chrome bookmarks stay in Chrome.

Can I set different default browsers on my Mac and iPhone?

Yes. Your Mac and iPhone have separate settings. You could set Safari as your default on Mac and Chrome as your default on iPhone, or any other combination. Each device's setting is independent.

What if an app has its own built-in browser?

Some apps like Twitter, Reddit, or Slack have their own built-in browser for opening links. When you tap a link inside those apps, it opens in their browser instead of your default browser. This is controlled by the app itself, not by your system settings.