How to Change the Default Web Browser in Windows 7

Although you’re always free to use whichever Web Browser you like, the default browser is launched by Windows when clicking on links in email or Office documents. Here’s a quick guide for changing your default web browser in Windows using the Control Panel or from inside Firefox or Chrome.

Change your Windows Default Browser from the Control Panel

Click the Start button and click Control panel.

Click on Programs.

If you cant see the Programs option, change the view style of Control Panel. Click on View option in the top right corner of control panel and select Category view.

Now, click on Default Programs.

Click Set Your Default Programs if you want to change default programs which windows should use to open specific file types.

It will load the list of installed programs. Select the browser you want to use as your default and click on Set this Program As Default.

Click on Choose Defaults for this Program.

It will show you the list of all the supported file types. Select the ones you want to open with the specific browser and click on the Save button.

Set the Default Browser Inside the App

As I mentioned, normally I set the default browser inside the app. Here are a few examples of this.

Mozilla Firefox

Go to Options by clicking on the Firefox button and go to options.

Click on Advanced tab and under System Defaults, click on Check Now button to check your default browser.

If Firefox is not your default browser, it will pop a dialog box to confirm your choice. Click Yes.

Google Chrome

To make Google Chrome your default browser, click on the Wrench Menu and go to Settings.

Under Default Browser section, you can make Google Chrome your default browser.

There you have it, folks, if you have question or problem, feel free to ask me using the comments section below.

3 Comments

One more thing, Hammad. Browsers are notorious for claiming the throne of default browser without asking permission. So whatever browser you choose, in its setup screen–such as the Firefox screen, fourth from the bottom–look for a setting that tells your chosen browser to check each time you run it to make use it’s still the default. If some other browser has horned it, then your chosen browser will reset the setting to make it the dwfault again.

And if the browser I want default is not in the list, but it is clearly installed as I’m running it and everywhere is working absolutely fine?…

Louise V. Collins

Hello, Steve. I hope you can help me. I’m a senior citizen, with a goofed-up laptop. I was trying to use it one day, and suddenly something popped up; but when I tried to clear it (push the button that I didn’t want it), my regular default browser, which is Facebook, disappeared, and one I never heard of took it’s place & now I can’t get rid of it. It’s called… Trovi. It has also cleared the Menu, where the lists of Default Programs are to be stored. I know I need an Upgrade (& I’m try’g to learn to use this thing), but, at present, except for what I can get online, I have no one that can help me. I have no transportation & I’ve been sick, so I use the laptop to play Free games,for company–when it’ll work. I thank you for any help you may be able to give me.

How to Change the Default Browser in Windows

Pick the browser you like best

What to Know

• From the Windows Start menu: Type Default apps. Under Web browser, select the current default, then choose a new option.
• Make Chrome the default: Open Chrome. Select Menu >Settings >Default Browser >Make Google Chrome the default browser.
• Make Firefox the default: Open Firefox. Go to Menu >Options >General >Startup and select Make Default.

This article explains how to change your default browser, which is likely Microsoft Edge, on a Windows PC. Instructions cover Windows 10, Windows 8, and Windows 7.

How to Choose a New Default Browser From the Start Menu

If you have Windows 10, you might be able to change the default browser quickly, without launching any of the specific browser apps, as below.

First, type default apps into the Search field, then scroll down to the Web browser heading. Select the browser that is already the default, and you’ll see a list of browsers available on your PC. Select the one you would like to open all your web links, and then close out of the window.

If that doesn’t work for you, give the following instructions a try, depending on which browser you use.

Google Chrome

To set Google Chrome as your default Windows browser, take the following steps.

Open the Google Chrome browser.

Select the Chrome menu button, represented by three horizontal lines and located in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

When the drop-down menu appears, select the Settings option.

In the left pane, select Default browser.

Select Make default.

You can also access the Chrome settings interface by entering the following shortcut command in the browser address bar: chrome://settings.

Your computer opens the Default Apps applet, where you can choose Google Chrome as your default browser.

Mozilla Firefox

To set Mozilla Firefox as your default Windows browser, take the following steps.

Open the Firefox browser.

Select the Firefox menu button, represented by three horizontal lines and located in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

When the pop-out menu appears, select Options.

The first section in the General tab, labeled Startup, contains your browser settings. Select Make Default.

Microsoft Edge

To set Microsoft Edge as your default browser in Windows 10, take the following steps.

Open the Microsoft Edge browser.

Select Settings and more, represented by three dots and located in the upper-right corner of the browser window and choose Settings.

In the left pane, select Default browser.

Select Make Default.

Opera

To set Opera as your default Windows browser, take the following steps.

Select the Opera menu button, located in the upper-left corner of the browser window.

When the drop-down menu appears, select Settings.

Locate the Default browser section. Next, select Make default. Windows displays the Default apps page and changes your browser choice to Opera.

Maxthon Cloud Browser

To set Maxthon Cloud Browser as your default Windows browser, take the following steps.

Select the Maxthon menu, represented by three broken horizontal lines and located in the upper-right corner of the browser window.

Select Settings.

When the settings page appears, select Set Maxthon Browser as default browser.

How to Change Your Default Web Browser

Want your Windows PC to open links in Firefox, your Mac to load up Chrome, or your iPhone to favor Edge? Here’s how to change the default web browser on a PC, Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Android device.

Every computer and mobile device comes with a default web browser. Windows 10 has Microsoft Edge, while Apple devices run Safari. On Android, the default may be Google Chrome, Samsung Internet, or something else, like the stock Android browser prevalent in older models.

However, you don’t have to stick with that default. By changing it, any link or web-based file you click will open in your browser of choice. Here’s how to make the switch for each type of operating system and platform.

Set by Browser

Before navigating to your device’s settings, go to your desired browser and set it as the default. To do this in Google Chrome, for example, click the three-dot icon in the upper right and go to Settings > Default browser > Make default. In Firefox, click the hamburger icon in the upper right and select Options. In the General section, click Make default.

Windows 10

In Windows 10, Microsoft has replaced Internet Explorer with Edge, which received a Chromium-based overhaul in 2020. Naturally, Microsoft recommends that you stick with its browser, but you can change it. Open the Windows 10 Settings menu and navigate to Apps > Default Apps. Scroll down and click Web browser, and you can choose from Edge, Firefox, Chrome, IE, or another program you can download from the Microsoft Store.

Windows 8.1

In Windows 8.1, you’re initially stuck with Internet Explorer as the default browser. Switch it out by opening the Charms bar and clicking the Settings icon. At the Settings pane, click Change PC Settings > Search and apps > Defaults. From here, the process is similar to Windows 10; click the current default for Web browser and change it to the browser of your choice.

Windows 7

Microsoft ceased offering security updates to Windows 7 in January 2020, so you should consider upgrading to a more modern and secure OS. Otherwise, Internet Explorer is again the default browser, but the process for changing it is different than in Windows 10 and 8.1. Open Control Panel in icon view and select Default Programs > Set your default programs. You can then select the browser you want set as the default.

Notice that the status indicates the new default browser currently has X of a certain number of defaults. Click Set this program as default, and the status should change to say that the browser has all its defaults.

macOS

Changing the default browser on a Mac is simple and quick. On your Mac, click the Apple menu in the top left of the screen, open System Preferences, and click the General icon. On the General screen, click the drop-down box next to Default web browser and change the selection to your preferred program.

iOS and iPadOS

In the past, Apple prevented you from changing the default browser on your iPhone or iPad, but that was changed with iOS 14 and iPadOS. To switch the default from Safari to any other browser, go to Settings and select the browser you want—be it Chrome, Firefox, or Edge. Tap the entry for Default Browser App and select the browser you wish to use.

Android

The only way to set Google Chrome as the default web browser on Android is through the phone’s settings. These settings will differ depending on the manufacturer, but you can generally swipe down from the top of the screen and tap the gear icon to enter the Settings menu.

Look for an option that says Apps or Apps & Notifications. Open the list of installed apps and tap the entry for your preferred browser. Swipe down the info screen for the selected app, then tap the “Browser app” entry and select the new default.

To set Firefox as the default browser, tap the three-dot icon in the lower-right corner of the app, then choose Settings and turn on the switch next to Make Firefox your default browser. Tap the entry for Browser app and change the default to Firefox.

For Edge, tap the three-dot icon and select Settings. Swipe down the Settings screen and tap Set default browser, then tap Set default browser from the pop-up window. This takes you to the phone’s Default apps settings where you can select Browser app to set a new default.