Setting Chrome as your default browser in three steps

Making Chrome your default browser means that when you click a link in an email, document, or app, Chrome opens automatically instead of whatever browser you had before. On Windows and Mac, you do this through your system settings. On Android, you change it in your phone's settings or through Chrome itself. The exact steps depend on which device you're using.

Once you set Chrome as default, your choice sticks until you change it again — you don't need to repeat the process every time you open a link. If you ever want to switch back to a different browser, the same settings let you change it.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 10 or 11, 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 Android, open Chrome, tap the menu icon, go to Settings > Apps and notifications > Default apps, and select Chrome as your browser.
  • Your device may ask you to confirm the change, but once you do, the setting persists until you manually change it again.

Setting Chrome as default on Windows 10 and 11

Open your Windows Settings 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 that appears.

Scroll down until you see Web browser. Click on whatever browser is currently listed there — it might say "Microsoft Edge" or another name. A window will pop up showing all the browsers installed on your computer. Find Google Chrome in the list and click it once to select it.

Windows will confirm the change immediately. You can close the Settings window. The next time you click a link outside of Chrome, it will open in Chrome instead.

Setting Chrome as default on Mac

Open Chrome by clicking its icon in your Dock or Applications folder. Once Chrome is open, click the Chrome menu in the top-left corner of your screen (it looks like three horizontal lines), then select Settings.

In the left sidebar, click Default browser. You'll see a button that says Make default. Click it. Mac will ask your permission to allow Chrome to change your default browser — click Allow in the dialog that appears.

That's all you need to do. Close the Settings tab and you're finished. Links you click in Mail, Messages, or other apps will now open in Chrome.

Setting Chrome as default on Android phones and tablets

Open the Chrome app on your Android device. Tap the three-dot menu icon in the bottom-right corner of the screen. Scroll down and tap Settings.

Tap Apps and notifications, then tap Default apps. You'll see a list of app categories. Tap Browser app. A list of installed browsers will appear — tap Chrome to select it as your default.

Some Android phones show this setting in a slightly different place. If you don't see "Default apps" in Settings, try going to your phone's main Settings app instead, then look for Apps or Applications, find Chrome in the list, and look for a "Set as default" button.

What happens if your device asks for confirmation

Some versions of Windows and Mac will show a confirmation dialog after you click the button to make Chrome default. This is normal — the system is just double-checking that you meant to make the change. Click Yes, Allow, or Confirm depending on what your device says.

If you see a message saying Chrome is already your default browser, that means the change already took effect from a previous time you set it, or Chrome set itself as default when you first installed it.

Switching back to a different browser later

If you decide you want a different browser to be default instead, follow the same steps you used to set Chrome as default, but select a different browser name at the end. Your device doesn't limit how many times you can change this — you can switch back and forth as often as you want.

Some browsers, like Firefox or Edge, will also ask you when you first open them whether you'd like to make them your default. You can say yes to that prompt instead of going through Settings, and it will have the same effect.

Why you might want Chrome as your default

Setting a default browser is purely a convenience choice. It means you don't have to think about which browser to use when you click a link — it just opens. If you use Chrome for most of your browsing anyway, making it default saves you a step.

You can still use other browsers whenever you want, even if Chrome is your default. Opening Firefox or Safari directly will work exactly the same as always. The default setting only affects what happens when you click a link from outside the browser.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will setting Chrome as default change any of my settings or passwords?

No. Making Chrome your default browser only changes what happens when you click links outside of Chrome. All your bookmarks, passwords, and settings stay exactly as they are. The change is purely about which app opens when you click a link.

Can I have two browsers as default at the same time?

No. Your device can only have one default browser. If you want to use both Chrome and another browser regularly, you can keep both installed and open whichever one you want by clicking its icon — you just won't have an automatic default for links.

What if Chrome doesn't appear in the list of browsers when I try to set it as default?

This usually means Chrome isn't installed on your device yet. Download it from google.com/chrome and install it, then follow the steps for your device type again. After installation, Chrome should appear in the browser list.

Does setting Chrome as default mean it will open automatically when I turn on my computer?

No. Default browser only controls what happens when you click a link. It doesn't make Chrome start up on its own. If you want Chrome to open when you start your computer, that's a separate setting in your browser's startup options.

Can I undo this change if I change my mind?

Yes. Follow the same steps you used to set Chrome as default, but select a different browser instead. You can change your default browser as many times as you want, and there's no penalty for switching.