mac set safari as default browser

• a. Send us an email
• b. Anonymous form
• Buyer's Guide
• Upcoming Products
• Tips / Contact Us
• Podcast Instagram Facebook Twitter Mastodon YouTube Notifications RSS Newsletter

How to Change Your Default Browser on Mac

In macOS, Apple's Safari is the default browser for accessing the web, but you don't have to keep it that way. This article shows you how to change your default web browser to an alternative option. Keep reading to learn how.

While Chrome is the most popular choice among Mac users, Microsoft Edge is catching up. In fact, Edge is on the verge of overtaking Safari as the world's second most popular desktop browser , thanks to its fast performance and strong feature set.

While all browsers have something different to offer, the choice between them really comes down to personal preference. The main contenders are all free to download, so the best thing to do is install them, try them out, and keep the one you like best. Then you can make it your default browser to replace Safari.

The following sets of steps show you how to do just that. The first set of steps assume you are running macOS Ventura or later, while the second set of steps are for earlier versions of macOS that still feature the System Preferences panel. Bear in mind that both sets of steps assume you have already downloaded and installed the browser you want to use.

Change Default Browser on macOS Monterey and Earlier

• Launch System Preferences from your Mac's Dock, from the Applications folder, or from the Apple menu bar (  -> System Preferences... ).

Change Default Browser on macOS Ventura and Later

• Launch System Settings from your Mac's Dock, from the Applications folder, or from the Apple menu bar (  -> System Settings... ).
• Select Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.

That's all there is to it, you have now successfully changed your default web browser from Safari to your preferred app. Want to do the same thing on your iPhone or iPad ? Check out our dedicated article to learn how .

Get weekly top MacRumors stories in your inbox.

Popular Stories

Some AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Customers Report Issues With Calls [Update: Fixed]

iOS 18: These iPhones Likely Won't Support Some AI Features

Sonos Ace Headphones vs. AirPods Max

Revealed: Complete iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Dimensions

iOS 18 Beta Available Next Week With These 25 New Features Expected

iPhone 16 Pro Could Break Record for Thinnest Bezels on a Smartphone

Next article.

Our comprehensive guide highlighting every major new addition in iOS 17, plus how-tos that walk you through using the new features.

Apple News+ improvements, cross-platform tracker alerts, website app downloads for the EU, and more.

Get the most out your iPhone 15 with our complete guide to all the new features.

A deep dive into new features in macOS Sonoma, big and small.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference will kick off with a keynote on June 10.

Expected to see new AI-focused features and more. Preview coming at WWDC in June with public release in September.

AI-focused improvements, new features for Calculator and Notes, and more.

Action button expands to all models, new Capture button, camera improvements, and more.

Other Stories

10 hours ago by Tim Hardwick

11 hours ago by Tim Hardwick

2 days ago by Tim Hardwick

6 days ago by MacRumors Staff

2 weeks ago by Tim Hardwick

Change the default web browser or email app on your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

With iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 and later, you can change which app will open when you click a website link or an email address, as long as the app supports it.

Before you begin

Make sure you have iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 or later, and you have the app installed on your device properly.

Make sure the web browser app or email app supports this feature. If you're not sure, contact the app developer .

How to change your default web browser or email app

Go to Settings and scroll down until you find the browser app or email app.

Tap the app, then tap Default Browser App or Default Mail App.

Select a web browser or email app to set it as the default. A tick will appear to confirm it's the default.

If you can't see the option to set a web browser or email app as your default, the developer may not support it. Contact the app developer to learn more .

If you delete your default web browser app, your device will set Safari as the default browser app.

In countries or regions of the European Union on iOS 17.4 or later: after you’ve chosen a default browser from the web browser choice screen, if you want to change that setting, follow the steps to change your default browser .

If you delete your default email app, your device will set the Mail app as the default. If you delete the Mail app, your device will set one of your other email apps as the default. To use the Mail app again, you'll need to reinstall it on your device.

Related topics

Contact Apple Support

Need more help? Save time by starting your support request online and we'll connect you to an expert.

How to change your default browser on a Mac computer

• You can change the default browser on Mac in System Preferences or your browser's settings page. 
• Macs set Safari as the default browser, but you can change it to any other browser, like Chrome. 
• When you change your default browser, any links you click will open in your preferred browser. 

Mac computers come with Apple's Safari web browser pre-set as the default browser. This means that Safari will open automatically when you click certain links, even if you don't want it to. 

While Safari is a fast web browser and works well for most web needs, there are drawbacks to using it. One of these drawbacks is that for some websites, other browsers can be faster — for example, Google Apps work better in Google's own browser, Chrome . Other websites might not work with Safari at all. 

You can change your Mac's default web browser through System Preferences or through the browser itself — here's how to do both. 

How to change the default browser on Mac from System Preferences 

1. Open System Preferences by clicking the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and selecting System Preferences in the drop-down.

2. In System Preferences, click General in the top-left corner.

3. On the General page, click the drop-down next to Default Web Browser.

4. All web browsers downloaded on your computer will appear in the drop-down list. Choose one to set it as your default. Now, whenever you click on a link to open it, it will automatically appear in your chosen browser. 

How to change your default browser on Mac from the browser's settings 

There are dozens of different web browsers you could be using, and the exact method for setting them as your default browser is slightly different for each. Here, we'll use Google Chrome as an example.

1. Open Chrome.

2. In the toolbar at the very top of your screen, click Chrome and select Preferences in the drop-down. 

3. Scroll down to the Default browser section and click Make default .

4. A window will pop up asking if you want to Keep [browser] as your default or Use Chrome . Choose Use Chrome .

On February 28, Axel Springer, Business Insider's parent company, joined 31 other media groups and filed a $2.3 billion suit against Google in Dutch court, alleging losses suffered due to the company's advertising practices.

• Main content

How to Change the Default Browser on Your Mac

Don’t like Safari? Follow these steps to choose a different default browser on your Mac.

If you use a third-party browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox on the Mac, it’s a good idea to go all the way and make it the default. That way, any links that you select in Mail and other apps will open in your browser of choice and not in Safari.

Let’s figure out what you can do to change the default browser for the Mac.

Change the Default Browser via System Preferences

The easiest way to change the default browser on the Mac is to use the System Preferences app in macOS . You don’t even have to open your browser for that:

• Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences .
• Select the General category.
• Open the dropdown menu next to Default web browser and pick your preferred browser—for example, Google Chrome .

If you want to revert to having Safari as the default browser on the Mac, simply repeat the steps above and set the Default web browser to Safari .

Change the Default Browser via In-Browser Settings

You can also change the default browser on your Mac in-browser. Here’s how to do that using the two most popular third-party browsers for Mac : Chrome and Firefox.

Set Google Chrome as the Default Browser

Follow these steps inside Google Chrome to make it your default browser:

• Open the Chrome menu and select Settings .
• Choose Default browser on the sidebar.
• Select Make Default > Use Chrome .

Set Mozilla Firefox as the Default Browser

Follow these steps inside Mozilla Firefox to make it your default browser:

• Open the Firefox menu and select Settings .
• Make sure that you’re on the General tab.
• Select Make Default > Use Firefox .

Set Your New Default Everywhere

The Mac aside, you might also want to change the default browser on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. That ensures you use the same browser across all of your devices. Learn what it takes to do that.

• Helldivers 2
• Dragon’s Dogma 2
• Wuthering Waves
• Genshin Impact
• Counter Strike 2
• Honkai Star Rail
• Lego Fortnite
• Stardew Valley
• NYT Strands
• NYT Connections
• Apple Watch
• Crunchyroll
• Prime Video
• Jujutsu Kaisen
• Demon Slayer
• Chainsaw Man
• Solo Leveling
• Beebom Gadgets

How to Change the Default Browser on Your Mac

Change Default Browser on Mac Computer (August 2022)

Change default browser in macos ventura on your mac.

2. The System Settings app opens the “Appearance” settings by default, but we need to move to the “ Desktop & Dock ” settings from the left sidebar to change the default browser on Mac.

Change Default Browser in macOS Monterey or Older Versions

2. The Settings app will now open up. Here, you need to click on “General” .

Change Default Browser from Safari to Google Chrome on Mac

2. If you do not see this notification on the “New Tab” page, check out the method described in the following steps. First, click the vertical three-dots icon at the top-right corner and select “ Settings ” from the drop-down menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are two easy ways to make Chrome the default browser on Mac computers. Firstly, you can click the “Make default” browser option in the Chrome settings. Secondly, you can navigate to the “Desktop & Docks” section in the macOS Ventura settings app to set the default browser.

Set Default Browser in macOS Ventura or Earlier Versions

Getting my start with technology journalism back in 2016, I have been working in the industry for over 7 years. Currently, as the Editor of Beebom, I'm leading the coverage on the website. While my expertise lies in Android, Windows, and the apps world, find me reading manga, watching anime, and playing Apex in my free time.

Add new comment

Trusted Reviews is supported by its audience. If you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a commission. Learn more.

How to change the default browser on Mac

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 as Google Chrome or Microsoft 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:

• An iMac or MacBook

The short version:

Enter the apple menu and select system settings, select desktop & dock in the left-hand side panel, find default web browser, select the menu and choose which browser you’d like to set as your default.

Troubleshooting

In order for Chrome to show up, you’ll need to have downloaded it to your Mac first. You can download it from this 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.

You might like…

How to schedule text messages on Android

How to disable Find My on your iPhone before getting it serviced

How to download and use Google Gemini on Android

How to optimise battery life on the OnePlus 12

How to check if your iMessage was delivered successfully

How to enable bypass charging on the Galaxy S24

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…

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

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.

Professional 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.

Sign up to our newsletter

Get the best of Trusted Reviews delivered right to your inbox.