Set Chrome as your default browser in three steps

Making Chrome your default browser means links you click in emails, documents, and other apps will open in Chrome instead of whatever browser is currently set. On Windows and Mac, you do this through your operating system settings, not through Chrome itself. On Android, you change it in your phone's settings or through Chrome's own menu.

The process takes less than a minute and you only need to do it once. If you ever want to switch back to a different browser, you follow the same steps and pick a different option. Your operating system controls which browser opens links — changing settings inside Chrome alone will not work.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 and 11, open Settings, go to Apps, then Default apps, search for Chrome, and select it as your browser.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click General, then Default web browser, and choose Google Chrome from the dropdown.
  • On Android, open Chrome, tap the menu (three dots), go to Settings, then tap "Browser" and select "Set as default browser".
  • Your operating system controls which browser opens links, so changing the default in Chrome alone will not work.
  • The change takes effect immediately on all devices and you can switch back to a different browser at any time by repeating the same steps.

Windows 10 and Windows 11

Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then press Enter. In the Settings window, click Apps on the left side, then click Default apps.

Scroll down and look for Web browser. Click on whatever browser is currently listed there. A window will pop up showing all the browsers installed on your computer. Click Google Chrome, then click the Set default button that appears. Windows will confirm the change immediately.

Close the Settings window. From now on, when you click a link in an email, Word document, or any other program, it will open in Chrome. You do not need to restart your computer or close any open programs.

Mac (macOS 12 and newer)

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Settings. On the left side, click General. Scroll down until you see Default web browser.

Click the dropdown menu next to "Default web browser" and select Google Chrome. The change takes effect immediately. You can close System Settings.

If you are using an older Mac with macOS 11 or earlier, the process is slightly different: open System Preferences instead of System Settings, click General, and look for the "Default web browser" dropdown at the bottom of the window. The steps are otherwise identical.

Android phones and tablets

Open the Chrome app and tap the three-dot menu in the bottom-right corner (or top-right, depending on your phone model). Tap Settings. Scroll down and tap Browser. Tap Set as default browser.

Your phone will show a list of installed browsers. Tap Chrome, then tap Set as default or OK depending on your Android version. The change is immediate.

On some Android phones, you may see a slightly different path: open the Settings app (not Chrome), go to Apps, then Default apps, select Browser app, and choose Chrome. Both routes work and lead to the same result.

What happens after you set Chrome as default

Once Chrome is your default browser, links in emails, text messages, social media apps, and documents will open in Chrome. This includes links in Gmail, Outlook, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and any other app that contains clickable web addresses.

If you install a new browser later and that browser asks to be your default, you can say no and Chrome will remain your default. You can change the default back to another browser at any time by following the same steps and picking a different option. There is no penalty for switching back and forth.

If Chrome does not appear in the default browser list

On Windows, make sure Chrome is actually installed. Open the Start menu and type "Chrome" — if nothing appears, you need to download and install it first from google.com/chrome. Once installed, follow the steps above to set it as default.

On Mac, open Applications in Finder and look for Google Chrome. If it is not there, download it from google.com/chrome and drag it into your Applications folder. After installation, follow the System Settings steps above.

On Android, open the Google Play Store, search for "Chrome", and tap Install if you see an Install button. If you see Open instead, Chrome is already installed and you can proceed with the settings steps above.

Changing your default browser back later

If you decide to use a different browser as your default, the process is identical to setting Chrome — you just pick a different browser name at the final step. Your old default browser will continue to work normally; changing the default does not uninstall or disable it.

You can switch between browsers as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you can change your default, and each change takes effect immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will setting Chrome as default slow down my computer?

No. Setting a default browser does not affect your computer's speed. It only changes which program opens when you click a link. You can have multiple browsers installed without any performance impact.

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

No. Your operating system allows only one default browser at a time. If you want to open a link in a different browser, you can copy the link and paste it into that browser's address bar, or right-click the link and choose "Open with" to pick a different browser.

What if someone else uses my computer?

On Windows and Mac, each user account has its own default browser setting. If another person logs into their own account, they can set their own default without affecting yours. On shared Android devices, there is only one default browser for the whole phone unless you set up separate user profiles.

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

No. The change takes effect immediately on all operating systems. You do not need to restart anything or close any open programs.

What if I accidentally set the wrong browser as default?

Simply follow the same steps again and select Chrome (or whichever browser you want). There is no harm in changing your default multiple times, and you can undo any change instantly.