How to change the default browser on a Mac

howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-change-the-default-browser-on-a-mac/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

7 of 7 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Path

System Settings › Desktop & Dock › Default web browser

Real screenshots

7 of 7 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Install the browser first

   Download it from the official website, open the downloaded file and drag the browser into the Applications folder. Open it once.

   On our MacBook Neo, Google Chrome was already in the Applications folder.

   Done

2. 

   Open System Settings

   Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and choose System Settings.

   On our MacBook Neo it opened on the Battery page, which is fine.

   Done

3. 

   Click Desktop & Dock

   It is in the list on the left, below Appearance.

   Done

4. 

   Scroll to Default web browser

   Scroll down the page past Desktop & Stage Manager. On our MacBook Neo the Default web browser row sits in the Widgets section, just above Windows, and read Safari.

   Done

5. 

   Open the menu on that row

   Click the browser name at the right of the row. A list of installed browsers opens, with a tick next to the current one.

   On our MacBook Neo it listed only Safari and Google Chrome.

   Done

6. 

   Choose the browser

   Click the browser you want, here Google Chrome.

   Done

7. 

   Check the row

   The row now shows the new browser. On our MacBook Neo it read Google Chrome straight away, with no extra prompt.

   Apple says links you click in other apps then open in that browser.

   Done

What we saw on our device

• Install the browser first: On our MacBook Neo, Google Chrome was already in the Applications folder.
• Open System Settings: On our MacBook Neo it opened on the Battery page, which is fine.
• Scroll to Default web browser: On our MacBook Neo the Default web browser row sits in the Widgets section, just above Windows, and read Safari.
• Open the menu on that row: On our MacBook Neo it listed only Safari and Google Chrome.
• Check the row: On our MacBook Neo it read Google Chrome straight away, with no extra prompt.

If you do not see this option

• Your browser is not in the menu The menu lists only browsers installed on the Mac; on our MacBook Neo that was Safari and Google Chrome. Install the browser in the Applications folder, open it once, then look again.
• No Default web browser row at the top It is not near the top of Desktop & Dock. Scroll past Dock and Desktop & Stage Manager to the Widgets section.

If this does not work

• System Settings opens on another page It remembers the last page used; on our MacBook Neo it opened on Battery. Click Desktop & Dock in the list on the left.
• Links still open in Safari Go back to Desktop & Dock and check the Default web browser row shows the browser you picked, not Safari. If it does not, choose it again from the menu.

About this guide

A Mac opens links in Safari until you choose another browser. The setting is in a place few people expect: under Desktop & Dock, in the Widgets section.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

Most browsers also ask "Make default?" when you first open them. Clicking yes does the same thing.

To change the default email app, open Mail, choose Mail, Settings, General, and pick another app under Default email reader.

Make one file type open in a different app as well: How to change which app opens a file type on a Mac.

The same on an iPhone: How to change the default browser and other default apps on an iPhone.

In short: System Settings, Desktop & Dock, Default web browser, choose the browser.