How to Change My Default Browser on Windows 11 and 10

Windows ships with Edge as the default browser. However, that does not mean you have to live with what comes pre-installed on your computer. We switched from Edge to Google Chrome because we missed its extension ecosystem. You can also learn how to change the default browser in this article to switch from your current default browser to the browser of your choice, be it Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, or any other browser, including Edge itself.

While changing the default browser settings, remember that each browser has its fair share of pros and cons. No single browser is perfect. For example, Google Chrome offers the fastest rendering engine, many extensions, and automatic security patch updates. Mozilla Firefox brings open-source transparency, customizable tracking protection, and enterprise policies for IT teams. Brave blocks ads and trackers by default and has enhanced privacy settings. Microsoft Edge offers excellent integration with Windows security settings, efficient memory usage, and built-in tracking prevention. Hence, your choice of browser should depend on your specific security and performance needs and your ecosystem.

For example, while Google Chrome is perfect for us, a browser like Pikluk Browser may be the right choice for someone interested in the best browsers for kids.

Hence, keeping your unique needs in mind, you can proceed to change the default browser on your PC.

Before changing the default web browser in Windows 10 or 11, you must have your preferred browser installed. Hence, let’s first check if your preferred browser is installed.

How to Check If the Preferred Browser Is Installed

You can follow the steps below to verify that you have the desired browser installed and working on your computer.

• Click the Start button.
• Type your desired browser’s name in the search bar.
• Click the browser in the search results to open it.
• Once the browser opens, visit any website, such as this blog, or your search engine to confirm the browser is working normally, and you can access the internet without errors like “Server IP Address Could Not be Found.”
• If the browser does not open, crashes immediately, or asks to complete setup, finish that step before changing the default browser settings.

Alternatively, you can verify browser installation by following the path Settings > Apps > Installed apps > Browser Name in Windows 11 and Settings > Apps > Apps & features > Browser Name in Windows 10.

If you don’t find the browser in Installed apps or Apps & features, download it from its official website or Microsoft Store.

Remember to download the browser only through the official installer (Microsoft Store or its official website), open the browser once to finish the first-run setup, update the browser, and remove broken duplicate entries (if there are any) of the same browser.

Once you have your preferred browser in place, you can set it as your default browser.

How to Change the Default Browser on Windows 11

To change your default browser on Windows 11, follow the path Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Your Preferred Browser > Confirmation. Below are these steps explained in detail.

• Press Windows + I to open Settings. It is where you will find all the customization tools.
• Click Apps in the Settings menu. Apps in Windows manage all the applications on your computer.
• Click Default apps in the Apps window. “Default apps” is where you find all the default applications and programs, such as browsers.
• Scroll through the “Default apps” list and then click your preferred browser, such as Firefox, Chrome, etc.
• Lastly, click the Set default button to confirm your selection.

Also know: Best Secure Web Browser to Keep Data Safe

How to Change the Default Browser on Windows 10

To change your default browser on Windows 10, follow the path Settings > Apps > Default apps > Web browser > Your current browser > Preferred browser. Here are these steps in detail.

• Press Windows + I to access Settings.
• Click Apps in the Settings window.
• Next, click Default apps in the left sidebar of the Apps window.
• Click Web browser in the default apps.
• Next, click your current browser.
• Select your preferred browser, for example, Google Chrome, Brave, Firefox, etc.

• Confirm your selection and exit the window. If prompted with “Try Microsoft Edge,” dismiss this prompt.

In addition to changing the default browser entirely on Windows, you can also assign different browsers for specific links and file types. For example, you can open PDF files in Chrome, HTML files in Edge, and WebP images in Mozilla Firefox.

How to Change the Default Browser Setting for Specific File Types

To change the default browser on your Windows PC for specific file types, follow the path Settings > Apps > Default apps > File types > Your preferred browser > Set default. Here is a detailed explanation of these steps.

• Press Windows + I to open Settings.
• Click Apps in the Settings panel.
• Next, click Default apps in the Apps main window.
• Scroll to file types such as .pdf, HTTP, .htm, HTTPS, and .html.
• Once you click the file type, a window will appear. You can select your desired browser from the list.
• Lastly, click Set default to confirm your selection.

Alternatively, you can right-click the file, click Open with, click Choose another app, select your preferred browser, then click the Always use this app checkbox, if available.

You can also change the default browser from inside the browser app. Let’s look at how.

How to Make Google the Default Browser from Inside the Browser App

To make Chrome your default browser, follow the path Settings > Default browser > Make default > Google Chrome. Here are these steps in detail.

• Open Google Chrome.
• Click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner of the browser window.
• Next, click Settings in the menu that appears.
• Click Default browser in the left menu.
• Click Google Chrome.
• Lastly, click Set Default.

How to Make Edge the Default Browser from Inside the Browser App

To set Microsoft Edge as your default browser, follow the path Settings > Default browser > Make default. Below are these steps explained in detail.

• Open Microsoft Edge.
• Click the three horizontal dots in the top-right corner of the Edge window.
• Next, click Default browser in the left pane of Edge settings.
• Click Make default to set Edge as your default browser.

How to Make Mozilla Firefox the Default Browser from Inside the Browser App

To set Firefox as your default browser, follow the path Settings > General > Startup > Make Default. The following are the steps in detail.

• Open Mozilla Firefox.
• Click the three horizontal bars and then click
• Next, click Account and sync in the Settings menu.
• Click Default browser.
• Lastly, click Make default to set Mozilla Firefox as your default browser.

How to Make Brave and Other Browsers the Default Browser from Inside the App

You can set Chromium-based browsers, such as Brave, Vivaldi, and Opera, as your default browser by opening the browser Settings, navigating to the Default browser or System section, clicking Make default, and then completing the process in Windows Settings.

That was how to make Google, Edge, or any other browser your default browser. However, if Windows doesn’t keep the desired browser as the default, you may need to troubleshoot browser problems.

What to Do If Windows Does Not Keep Your Selected Browser as Default

If Windows keeps changing your default browser from your preferred browser, you can update the browser, repair or reinstall the browser, check your school or work policies, look for conflicting tools, and update Windows. Here are these solutions in detail.

• Perform a browser update: Install the latest version of your desired browser so that it registers correctly with Windows settings.
• Repair the browser or reinstall it: If the browser is unavailable in the Default apps, reinstall it from the Microsoft Store or its official website and then set it as your default browser.
• Look for third-party conflicting tools: Third-party default tools, such as disk cleanup software, security apps, or browser managers, can conflict with the browser. Hence, disable these tools temporarily.
• Update Windows: Windows updates resolve system bugs that may be responsible for browser issues. To install pending Windows updates, click the Start button, type check for updates, click the first search result, click the Check for updates button, click Download & Install, and then restart your computer after the update process is complete.
• Check your school or work policies: If yours is a managed computer, your IT administrator may have enforced Microsoft Edge or another browser using device management or Group Policy. Contact the IT administrator to get the problem solved.

Once you fix the issues, you are all set to go with your preferred default web browser. A few tips can further improve your experience.

Also know: Fixed: Field ‘Browser’ Doesn’t Contain a Valid Alias Configuration

Tips for a Smooth Browser Experience

You can follow these tips for a smooth and safe browser experience.

• Avoid storing passwords in plaintext or transferring them via unsecured networks. Use the browser’s encrypted import and export options.
• Enable two-factor authentication to prevent unauthorized logins.
• Review extension permissions carefully and disable incompatible/unused extensions.
• Update your browser regularly to prevent security risks.

That’s all for how to change the default browser and enjoy a seamless browsing experience. For any questions or concerns, write us a comment.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How to make Google the default browser?

To set Google as your default web browser, open the Google Chrome settings, click Default browser, and then click Make default.

Q2. How to make Edge the default browser?

To set Microsoft Edge as your default browser on a Windows PC, open the Edge settings, click Default browser, and then click Make default.

Q3. What to do if my preferred browser is not in the options?

If your browser is not listed as an option, ensure the browser is completely installed and that you can open it normally. If this does not solve the problem, update or reinstall the browser and then restart your PC.

Q4. Will changing the default browser affect my bookmarks?

Changing the default browser does not affect bookmarks, as bookmarks are stored within all browsers separately.