How to Change the Default Browser in Windows 11
Although Microsoft Edge is still the butt of jokes, it is actually a reliable browser , especially if you set it up correctly . However, you shouldn’t be forced to use it if you’re using Windows 11 : while Microsoft desperately wants you to surf the Internet using its app, there are plenty of other great browsers out there instead .
Unfortunately, changing the default web browser in Windows is not that easy, at least not right away. You might think that this is as simple as clicking the “default browser” button that might appear when installing a new browser, but this is often not the case. Instead of choosing a default browser app to open every time you click a link, Windows wants you to set a default browser app for every link and file type you might click on. If you’re someone who desires this level of granular control, you might like this. If you’re like the rest of us, it’s a pain. Luckily, if you know where to configure your browser, it’s as easy as clicking a button.
How to Change the Default Web Browser in Windows 11
So, let’s say you’ve downloaded Chrome on your computer and are ready to switch to it. When you launch it, you may see the option to set Chrome as your default browser. Either way, click this button, but don’t expect your settings to be changed. Instead, this button leads to Start > Settings > Apps > Default Apps . If you don’t see the default browser button, you can simply go to this settings page yourself.
On the Default Applications page, find the browser you want. Here you will find all sorts of options including HTM, HTML, PDF, SHTML, SVG, WEBP, XHT, XHTML, FTP, HTTP and HTTPS. These are individual links and file types that you can link to any browser of your choice. If you want, you can open HTML links in Chrome, HTM links in Edge, HTTP links in Firefox, etc. However, most of us want one browser to open when we click on most links.
However, you can ignore these link options if your browser offers you a “Set as Default” button in the top right corner of the page. Click on it and it will automatically become the default for major link and file types, including HTM, HTML, HTTP and HTTPS. Edge will likely be the default for certain types of links and files, including PDF and SVG, so if you prefer to use the browser in all cases, change them manually.
Some browsers, such as Firefox, actually set these options automatically when you click the “Set as default browser” button when you first launch the application. I’m not sure why Mozilla does this for you and Chrome forces you to go to the settings page, but alas.
Now, even if you change these settings and make the new browser your default browser, Windows may still insist on using Edge, for example when clicking links you find when using the search bar in the Start menu. But this can also be fixed .