Set Safari as your default browser in System Settings

To make Safari your default browser on a Mac, open System Settings and navigate to the General section. Look for the "Default web browser" dropdown menu — it currently shows whichever browser is set as default, often Chrome or Firefox. Click the dropdown and select Safari from the list.

Once you select Safari, the change takes effect immediately. Any link you click in Mail, Messages, Notes, or other apps will now open in Safari instead of your previous default. You do not need to restart your computer or Safari itself.

If you do not see the General section in System Settings, you may be on an older version of macOS. In that case, look for the "Default web browser" option under System Preferences > General instead — the location changed in macOS Ventura.

Set Safari as default on iPhone and iPad

On iPhone and iPad, open the Settings app and scroll down to find Safari in the list of installed apps. Tap Safari, then look for the "Default Browser App" option near the top of the screen. Tap it and select Safari from the menu that appears.

The process is the same whether you are using an iPhone, iPad, or iPod Touch. After you make the selection, links in Mail, Messages, and other apps will open in Safari by default. This setting is separate from your Mac's default browser, so you need to change both devices if you want Safari as default everywhere.

Some older iPad and iPhone models running iOS 14 or earlier do not have a default browser setting. If you cannot find the option in Settings, your device is too old to support changing the default browser — Safari will remain the default.

Key Takeaways

  • On Mac, open System Settings, go to General, and select Safari from the "Default web browser" dropdown menu.
  • On iPhone and iPad, open Settings, find Safari in the app list, and tap "Default Browser App" to select Safari.
  • The change takes effect immediately and applies to all links opened from Mail, Messages, Notes, and other apps.
  • Mac and iPhone have separate default browser settings, so you must change both devices if you want Safari as default on all of them.
  • Devices running iOS 14 or earlier cannot change the default browser — Safari is locked as the default on those older models.

What happens after you set Safari as default

Once Safari is your default browser, clicking a link in any app sends it to Safari instead of whatever browser you had set before. This includes links in Mail, Messages, Notes, Reminders, Calendar, and third-party apps. The behavior is automatic — you do not need to do anything else.

If you change your mind later, you can switch back to Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or any other browser installed on your device by following the same steps and selecting a different browser from the dropdown. There is no penalty for changing your default browser multiple times.

Troubleshooting: Safari does not open links

If you set Safari as default but links still open in a different browser, restart your Mac or iPhone completely. Sometimes the system does not register the change until you power off and back on. After the restart, try clicking a link in Mail or Messages to confirm Safari opens it.

If Safari still does not open links after a restart, go back to System Settings or Settings and confirm Safari is still selected in the default browser dropdown. Occasionally the setting reverts, especially after a major software update. If it has reverted, select Safari again and restart once more.

If you are on an older Mac running macOS Monterey or earlier, the default browser setting may be in a different location. Check System Preferences rather than System Settings — they are the same application under different names depending on your macOS version.

Why you might want Safari as your default

Safari is built into every Mac and iPhone, so it works without installing anything extra. It syncs your bookmarks, history, and passwords across all your Apple devices through iCloud, which means your browsing data follows you from your phone to your computer automatically.

Safari also uses less battery than Chrome or Firefox on iPhone and Mac because it is optimized for Apple's hardware. If you already use other Apple apps like Mail or Notes, setting Safari as default keeps you in the Apple ecosystem without switching between different companies' software.

You do not have to use Safari as your default to use it occasionally. Many people keep Chrome or Firefox as default but open Safari when they want the battery savings or iCloud sync. The default browser setting only controls what opens when you click a link in another app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different default browsers on different devices?

Yes. Your Mac's default browser is separate from your iPhone's default browser. You can set Safari as default on your Mac and Chrome as default on your iPhone, or any other combination. Each device has its own setting in its own System Settings or Settings app.

Does setting Safari as default remove other browsers?

No. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, and any other browser you have installed remain on your device. Setting Safari as default only changes which browser opens when you click a link — you can still open other browsers manually whenever you want.

What if I do not see Safari in the default browser dropdown?

Safari cannot be uninstalled from Mac or iPhone, so it should always appear in the dropdown. If it does not, restart your device and check again. If Safari still does not appear, you may be looking in the wrong settings section — confirm you are in General on Mac or in the Safari app settings on iPhone.

Will changing my default browser affect my bookmarks or passwords?

No. Your bookmarks, passwords, and browsing history stay in whichever browser you saved them in. If your bookmarks are in Chrome, they remain in Chrome even if you set Safari as default. You would need to export them from Chrome and import them into Safari separately if you want them in both browsers.

Can I set Safari as default on a work computer?

If your work computer is a Mac you own, yes — follow the same steps in System Settings. If your work computer is managed by your company's IT department, they may have locked the default browser setting to prevent changes. Contact your IT support team if you cannot find the default browser option or if it is grayed out.