How to Change the Default Browser in Windows 10 and 11

If links on your PC always open in Microsoft Edge, but you would rather use Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or another browser, you can change that in just a few steps.

In this guide, I’ll show you how to change the default browser in Windows 10 and Windows 11, how to make Chrome your default browser, and what to do if the change doesn’t stick.

Quick Answer

• In Windows 11: go to Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for your browser, and click Set default.
• In Windows 10: go to Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll to Web browser, and choose the browser you want to use.

How to Change the Default Browser in Windows 11

In Windows 11, you can change the default browser from the Default apps section. From there, just search for the browser you want and set it as the default for opening web links.

Steps to Change the Default Browser in Windows 11:

1. Click Start and open Settings (also, you may use Windows + i).
2. Go to Apps and click Default apps.
3. In the search box, type the name of the browser you want to use, such as Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Edge.
4. Click the browser, then click Set default.

After that, Windows should use that browser as the default option for opening web links and supported web-related file types.

How to Change the Default Browser in Windows 10

In Windows 10, the process is usually more straightforward because the browser setting appears directly in the Default apps section under Web browser.

Steps to Change the Default Browser in Windows 10:

1. Open Start and go to Settings.
2. Click Apps and select Default apps.
3. Find the Web browser section.
4. Click your current browser, then choose the new browser you want to use by default.

Once you do that, links you open from Windows or other supported apps should open in the browser you selected.

How to Make Chrome the Default Browser

If you specifically want to use Google Chrome as your main browser, the steps are basically the same. You just need to select Chrome in the Default apps section:

• In Windows 11: Open Settings, go to Apps > Default apps, search for Chrome, and click Set default.
• In Windows 10: Open Settings, go to Apps > Default apps, then under Web browser, click your current browser and select Google Chrome.

Once that is done, Chrome will be the browser Windows uses by default for web links. If you also want to customize it further, you can check our guide on how to change the Google Chrome language on your computer or mobile.

If you start using Chrome as your main browser, you may also want to learn how to restore closed tabs and windows in Google Chrome.

What to Do If You Can’t Change the Default Browser

If Windows won’t let you change the default browser, or it looks like the change didn’t stick, try these fixes:

1. Make Sure the Browser Is Installed Correctly
   Check that Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or whichever browser you want to use is installed and up to date.
2. Try Changing It from Inside the Browser
   Many browsers include a Make default or Set as default option in their settings. Clicking it usually takes you straight to the correct Windows settings page.
3. Double-Check That the Change Was Applied
   In Windows 11, open the browser’s page again under Default apps and confirm it now appears as the default option.

If Windows doesn’t apply the change correctly, you can also check the official Microsoft guide to default apps in Windows.

Frequently Asked Questions