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

To set Chrome as your default browser, you open your device's settings and tell it to use Chrome for all web links. The exact steps depend on whether you're on Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android — each operating system keeps this setting in a different place. Once you change it, any link you click from email, documents, or other apps will open in Chrome instead of whatever browser was set before.

You don't need to uninstall your other browsers. Setting Chrome as default just means it becomes the one that launches automatically when you click a link. You can still open other browsers whenever you want.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and select Chrome as your default browser.
  • On Mac, open Chrome, go to Settings > Default browser, and click "Make default".
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Default Browser App and choose Chrome.
  • On Android, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Browser app and select Chrome.
  • After you change the setting, test it by clicking a link in an email or document to confirm Chrome opens.

Setting Chrome as default on Windows 10 and 11

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "settings", then press Enter. Click on "Apps" in the left sidebar, then select "Default apps" from the menu.

Scroll down until you see "Web browser" with your current default browser listed next to it. Click on that browser name, and a list of installed browsers will appear. Select "Google Chrome" from the list. Windows will ask you to confirm — click "Switch anyway" if a dialog appears. Chrome is now your default browser.

To verify it worked, open an email or document with a link, click the link, and Chrome should open automatically.

Setting Chrome as default on Mac

Open Google Chrome. Click the three vertical dots in the top right corner and select "Settings" from the menu. In the left sidebar, click "Default browser".

You'll see a button that says "Make default". Click it. Your Mac will ask you to confirm by opening System Settings briefly — this is normal. Once the confirmation completes, Chrome is your default browser.

If you don't see the "Make default" button, Chrome is already set as your default. You can close Settings.

Setting Chrome as default on iPhone

Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Scroll down and tap "Apps" (or look for "Chrome" directly if you have iOS 17 or later). Tap "Default Browser App".

A list of installed browsers appears. Tap "Chrome". You'll return to the previous screen, and Chrome is now your default. Any link you click from Safari, Mail, Messages, or other apps will open in Chrome.

Setting Chrome as default on Android

Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Tap "Apps" or "Applications" (the exact name varies by phone maker). Tap "Default apps" or "App permissions".

Look for "Browser app" or "Default browser" and tap it. Select "Chrome" from the list. You're done — Chrome is now your default browser.

If you can't find "Default apps" in your Settings, try searching for "default browser" in the Settings search bar at the top of the app.

What happens after you set Chrome as default

Once Chrome is your default, clicking any link outside of a browser will open that link in Chrome. This includes links in email, text messages, documents, social media apps, and anywhere else. You won't see a choice of which browser to use — Chrome will launch automatically.

You can still open other browsers manually anytime you want. Setting a default doesn't remove them or prevent you from using them. It only changes what happens when you click a link and don't specify which browser to use.

Troubleshooting: Chrome won't stay as default

On Windows, if Chrome keeps reverting to another browser, check whether you have another browser set to launch at startup. Some browsers (particularly Edge on Windows) are configured to reset themselves as default when they start. Disable startup launch for that browser in its settings, or set Chrome as default again after restarting your computer.

On Mac, if the "Make default" button doesn't appear or doesn't work, quit Chrome completely (Command+Q), then reopen it and try again. Sometimes the setting doesn't register until Chrome restarts.

On iPhone or Android, if Chrome isn't appearing in your default browser list, make sure Chrome is fully installed and up to date. Open the App Store or Google Play Store, search for Chrome, and check whether an "Update" button appears. If it does, tap it to update Chrome, then try setting it as default again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will setting Chrome as default delete my other browsers?

No. Setting Chrome as default only changes which browser opens when you click a link. Your other browsers remain installed and fully functional. You can still open them manually whenever you want.

Can I change my default browser back later?

Yes. Follow the same steps for your device, but select a different browser instead of Chrome. You can change your default browser as many times as you want.

Why does my default browser keep changing back to something else?

On Windows, some browsers reset themselves as default when they launch. Check the settings of other browsers you have installed and look for an option like "Set as default on startup" — turn it off. On Mac and mobile, this is less common, but updating all your browsers to their latest versions usually fixes it.

Do I need to uninstall my old default browser?

No. You can keep as many browsers installed as you want. Setting Chrome as default doesn't require removing anything else.

What if I don't see Chrome in the list of available browsers?

Chrome may not be fully installed yet. Go to your device's app store (Microsoft Store on Windows, App Store on Mac or iPhone, Google Play Store on Android), search for "Chrome", and install it. Once installation finishes, return to your default browser settings and Chrome should appear in the list.