Default Browser Chrome For Mac

by

How to change default web browser application on Mac computers?

Here are the steps to change your default browser: Launch Safari. Open Safari Preferences. Go to the “General” tab. Click on the “Default web browser” dropdown. Choose the browser you want (in my case, I wanted “Google Chrome Canary.app”). Close Preferences. After that, Chrome Canary should be your default browser for all links. If you've recently switched your browser, changing your Mac's. For example, Google Apps work better in Google's own browser, Chrome.

The Safari application is the default web browser on all Apple products including Mac computers, such as iMac, iMac Pro, Mac mini, Mac pro, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, and also mobile devices such as iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch (with the mobile version of Safari). You may, however, not like the app interface or functionality and prefer alternative software such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Opera. This is common to those who have recently switched from Windows to Mac devices.

There are no restrictions on the number of similar applications you can have installed on the Mac operating system, however, additional applications do not change your default settings. Therefore, when you open a URL shortcut or external link, it will be loaded through the Safari application. Fortunately, there are a few simple methods that allow you to choose the software used to open URL shortcuts and external links. There may also be other reasons to change the browser, for example, due to various circumstances, Safari might be slower than alternative software. Another common reason to choose another browser is extensions required by the user that are unavailable on the Safari application. Individual users will have their own reasons to change the default browser, and in this article we describe methods to achieve this.

Table of Contents:

It is recommended to run a free scan with Combo Cleaner - a tool to detect malware and fix computer errors. You will need to purchase the full version to remove infections and eliminate computer errors. Free trial available.

Change default web browser on modern Mac OS

Starting with OS X Yosemite 10.10, Apple decided to move the default web browser option to System Preferences, and this setting remains on all newer versions. This decision made choosing the default browser more logical, however, long term users of Apple products may find it a little more confusing. To change the default browser on modern versions of Mac operating systems, click on the Apple logo in the menu bar at top of your screen, then select System Preferences. When the new window appears, click on General, and under this pane look for the drop-down menu beside 'Default web browser'. Click the menu and choose the desired application. Note: in order to switch between default web browsers, at least one alternative must be installed on your computer - therefore, before you can change the application, you must install Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, or another browser. All available web browser applications will be listed within this drop-down menu.

Change default web browser on earlier Mac OS X

Changing the default web browser on earlier versions of the Mac operating system may seem confusing and somewhat illogical, since it requires launching the Safari application even though the purpose is to use an alternative application. This is the case if your Mac is running on OS X Mavericks 10.9 or an earlier version. To switch the default browser, launch the Safari app, then click on Safari in the menu bar at top of your screen. Select Preferences. Alternatively, press the keyboard shortcut of Command and Comma (,). In the new window, select the General tab, locate the drop-down menu beside Default web browser and select the program that you wish to use. Close the preferences window and quit Safari. From this point, your computer will open URL shortcuts and other external links with the software you have set. Additionally, most web browsing applications allow you to automatically set that particular program as the default, usually at each launch of the application (unless you have disabled the suggestions). If you have agreed to automatically set and wish to revert the default browser, you must repeat the procedure via Safari's preferences.

Alternative method to change default browser on Mac

You can also set an application as the default web browser through the browser's settings automatically. As mentioned above, web browsing software usually suggests that you assign it as the default app automatically, however, there is a way to accept this suggestion manually (if you have declined the suggestion before). On the other hand, this method may not work due to various restrictions on perform such changes within system preferences.

E binocam software driver. Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 (32 & 64 bit), Windows 8 (32 & 64 bit), Windows 10 (32 & 64 bit).

  • To set Google Chrome as the default browser, launch it and click on three vertical dots in the top right corner of the window, then select settings. Alternatively, you can type chrome://settings in the address field. When the new window opens, scroll down until you find the Default browser section, click Make default, and the application automatically assigns itself as the default web browser.
  • If you wish to set Mozilla Firefox as default web browser, launch it and click on three bars icon in the top right corner of the window, then select Preferences. Alternatively you can type about:preferences in the address field. Select General section from the left side bar, and at top of the current window look for the 'Firefox is not your default browser' message and at right side. Click Make Default. The application then automatically assigns itself as the default web browser.
  • To set Opera as the default web browser, open the app and click on the Opera menu, then select Preferences. In the new page, ensure the Basic section is selected on the left sidebar. Click the option 'Make Opera my default browser'.

As you can see, assigning default option is similar on all web browsers. if you are using browser that are not mentioned here, open the applications' preferences and find this option under the General tab.

Video Showing how to change default web browser on Mac

With macOS, the default browser that comes bundled with the operating system is none other than Apple’s Safari. Safari is an excellent browser, especially if you use multiple Mac computers and/or iOS devices, because it will be able to sync your data such as browsing history across them.

That being said, we get it, there are certain features in other browsers that you might prefer, and if you’d rather use those as your default browser, this guide will take you through the necessary steps to get it done.

Advertising

What Is A Default Browser?

In case you’re wondering about the importance or need of setting your default browser, it means that whenever you click on a link, the browser that automatically opens will be the default one that you (or the operating system) has yet. For example, If you love using Chrome but Safari is still set as the default, it means that links clicked in emails or chats will be opened in Safari instead of Chrome.

How To Set Default Browser On Mac

  1. Click the Apple menu and select System Preferences
  2. Select General
  3. Locate “Default web browser” and click on it
  4. Select from the dropdown list your browser of choice

Note that the list only features browsers that you have already installed on your computer. If you don’t see any other browser, it is because you have yet to install them. We have attached a list of various browsers below that you might want to check out as alternatives to Safari.

  • Microsoft Edge (currently in preview)

Alternative Default Browser Changing Methods

Given that all browsers want to be your default browser, sometimes when you install a new browser on your Mac and you launch it for the first time, you might be prompted to set that browser as your default. This will be a faster way compared to the method above. If you’d like to change it back, then you can just follow the steps we outlined above to revert back to Safari or any other browser that you prefer.

Filed in . Read more about Chrome, Firefox, Macos, Opera and Safari.