Launched in 2008, the Google Chrome Browser is the most installed web browser today. This isn’t by mistake or by luck. Google Chrome is a speedy web browser; you are able to drag tabs out into separate windows, among other advantages. It is also very basic and easy to use.
You might be asking, why should I have a default web browser in the first place? The default web browser is the application that is automatically launched when you click on a Web page, link or document.
Windows, for example, comes in with Microsoft Edge as its default browser. Using such a browser for regular use may rob you a minute or two of your precious time due to delayed load time. Perhaps Microsoft has thoughtfully rebuilt the browser based on the Chromium project giving tough competition to Google Chrome.
But, the feature like google account’s password and bookmark sync, extension support, cross-device migration, etc. still make the chrome number one choice over competitors. If you want to stay and continue browsing on chrome, then you will need to switch the default browser settings to Google Chrome.
Before we go any further, you will need to first have the Google Chrome browser installed into your computer or phone. You can download the Chrome app from the app or play store for your phone or from Google’s website if you are using a desktop or laptop. Most Android phones come with Google Chrome pre-installed.
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Set as Default: Chrome on Windows 10
Setting Google Chrome as your default browser on Windows 10 is pretty simple and straightforward. This can be down from the default apps setting.
Follow the steps below to set Google Chrome as the default browser app on Windows 10:
- On your computer, click the Start menu.
- Choose the Settings options menu.
- Select the Apps tab.
- Open your Default apps from the sidebar pane.
- At the bottom, under Web browser, click your current browser.
- In the Choose an app window, choose Google Chrome.
- Hit on the Done command button.
This will make Google Chrome your default browser on Windows 10 computers.
Please note with Windows 10, different versions of the operating system might dictate different steps. On one version, click System then goes to Default apps whereas, on another version, click Apps then go to Default apps.
Alternatively, you can also look up the ‘default apps’ in the Windows search to land on the Default apps settings page.
Windows 8, 7, and earlier
The steps to set Google Chrome as your default browser are a bit different for people using Windows 8 or 7. There are multiple version upgrades that have improvised the Windows OS over a period of time. It has really changed the navigation UI as well as settings options.
Follow these steps to set chrome as the default browser on Windows 8 and Windows 7:
- Click the Start menu.
- Open the Control Panel.
- Click Programs.
- Choose Default Programs and then Set Default Programs.
- On the left side list, select the Google Chrome program.
- Choose Set this program as default option.
- Hit on the OK button and you are done.
With Windows 8 and earlier, all app settings are accessed using the control panel. Just like you will need to use the control panel to uninstall an app, you will also use it to set an app as default.
Set Chrome as Default on Mac
Whereas some people think the MacOS is a complicated one to maneuver, setting Google Chrome as your default browser is as simple as 4 steps. Here they are:
- On your Mac computer, open the Google Chrome app.
- In the top right, click
more options menu. - Click the Settings menu from the list.
- In the Default browser section, click Make default.
Whereas Microsoft Edge and Internet explorer are the default browsers for Windows, Safari is the default browser for Mac OS.
Please note that you must already download and install Google Chrome on Mac before proceeding to the above steps to set it as default.
Alternatively, you can also set Chrome as the default browser from the System preference menu.
- On your desktop screen, click on Apple
. - Choose the System Preferences… menu option.
- Choose the General settings category.
- Under the General settings window, select the Default web browser app as Google Chrome.
- And close the General settings window.
That’s it, this will set Google Chrome as the Default web browser app on the Mac OS computer.
Chrome on Unity OS
The Unity Operating System is a Chinese-originated operating system that was commissioned by the People’s Republic of China to replace foreign operating systems like Microsoft Windows. It has advantages such as being very strong against computer viruses.
If you use the Unity operating system, follow these steps to make Google Chrome your default browser:
- Click on the dash button in the launcher and search for ‘System info‘.
- Open System info settings and move to the Default Applications section.
- Click on the dropdown list next to the Web field.
- Select Google Chrome and it will be selected as the default web browser for your system.
Unity normally comes with the Internet Explorer or Microsoft Edge as the default browser.
Default Browser app on Android Phones
Setting Google Chrome as a default browser on your Android phone is also very straightforward. It’s comes pre-installed in android phones as mostly set as the default one. However, the customize stock android UI like, MIUI, ColorOS, LineageOS, etc, have their own browser set as the default one.
Just follow these steps to set up Chrome as the default browser on Android:
- On your Android phone, open Settings.
- Tap Apps and notifications menu.
- Open the Advanced tab menu.
- Choose the Default apps tab.
- Open the Browser app menu for options.
- Select Chrome Chrome from the available list.
Also, when opening a link, your Android phone might bring you browser options to choose from. Select Google Chrome and choose instead of to set it as a default browser.
Most if not all Android phones come with Google Chrome pre-installed. If your phone doesn’t have Google Chrome installed, first download and install it from the Google Play store before you embark on the above steps.
Chrome as Default in iPhone/iPad
The latest iOS 14 has added a feature to set any installed web browser as the Default browser app in iOS. Earlier, only the Safari browser had a monopoly on iPhone and iPad.
Here are the steps to set Chrome as the default browser app on iPhone/iPad:
- Launch the Settings app on iOS
- Scroll down and select Safari to open the App Settings page.
- Tap on the Default Browser App menu.
- Choose the Chrome app from the list of available browsers.
This will set the Google Chrome app as a default browser app on iOS or iPadOS devices.
You can also add the Chrome app handy on Dock. Just Tap and Hold the chrome app until it starts jiggling. Move the Chrome app to the Dock pane at bottom of the screen and release it to make it permanent.
If there is no space on Docker, then just remove any one app that you no longer need.
The Google Chrome app is free in the iOS app store. You must first install it on your phone before you can use it.
Bottom Line: Chrome as Default Browser
I normally use Google Chrome as my primary browser. It opens up links pretty fast and displays web pages the way they have been designed – it doesn’t modify the pages with ad blockers and the like.
If you also frequently use Google Chrome and are tired of having your URLs open in other browsers, you can follow the above steps to make Google Chrome your default browser and start browsing away.
Related: 5+ Best Browsers for iPhone/iPad (Safari iOS Alternative)
What is your favorite browser and why? Share with us in the comments section below.
Lastly, here are the recommended web browsers for your computer and mobile phone that you should give a try.
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