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How to change the default browser on Mac
In This Article
Your default browser is the web browser that automatically opens whenever you click on a link or launch a web application. When you first set up your Mac, Safari will be set as the default browser, however it is easy to change.
If you prefer using a different web browser, such asGoogle ChromeorMicrosoft Edge, then you should set it as your default browser. With the correct browser set as your default, all links and apps will open automatically in your browser of choice, and not just Safari by default.
Read on to follow our step-by-step guide on changing your default browser on Mac and make your browsing experience much easier.
What you’ll need:
The short version:
Step1
Enter the Apple menu and select System Settings
The Apple menu can be found at the top-left corner of your screen, regardless of what app is open.
Step2
Select Desktop & Dock in the left-hand side panel
You may need to scroll down to find this. Alternatively, you can specifically search for Desktop & Dock in the search bar on the side panel.
Step3
Find Default web browser
You may need to scroll down to find this. Here, you’ll see which browser is currently set as your default. If your desired browser is already set, then there’s no need to do anything else.
Step4
Select the menu and choose which browser you’d like to set as your default
All downloaded and available browsers will appear in this menu.
Troubleshooting
In order for Chrome to show up, you’ll need to have downloaded it to your Mac first. You can download it fromthis webpage.
Yes of course, there’s no issue with switching between web browsers, or even using two different options (such as Safari and Chrome) simultaneously. But you can only have one default browser, which will trigger your chosen browser to open up when clicking on a link.
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Jess joined the Trusted Reviews team early in 2024, after working for almost three years in lifestyle and technology PR. Using the skills gained from her previous role, Jess has taken on a new challen…
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Why trust our journalism?
Founded in 2003, Trusted Reviews exists to give our readers thorough, unbiased and independent advice on what to buy.
Today, we have millions of users a month from around the world, and assess more than 1,000 products a year.
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
