How to Change the Default Web Browser on a Mac

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: October 26, 2023 Tested

This wikiHow teaches you how to make a web browser other than Safari your default web browser on a Mac computer. Common third-party browsers include Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge, but you can set any browser that's installed on your Mac as the default browser.

1

Install your preferred web browser.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/06\/Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-1.jpg\/aid78414-v4-728px-Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":342,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":542,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
You can use any web browser on your Mac. If you have a browser in mind, go ahead and install it. Otherwise, you can check out the following browsers and see which one you like best:
- Google Chrome – Download from https://www.google.com/chrome/downloads .
- Microsoft Edge – Download from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge
- Firefox – Download from https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox .
- Opera – Download from https://www.opera.com .
- Vivaldi – Download from https://vivaldi.com/download .
- Brave – Download from https://brave.com/download .

2

Open your Mac's System Preferences.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6d\/Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6d\/Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-4.jpg\/aid78414-v4-728px-Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

The System Preferences panel is where you can change your default Mac apps, including your default web browser.

3

Click the "General" icon.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/c\/cc\/Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/c\/cc\/Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-5.jpg\/aid78414-v4-728px-Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":341,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":540,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

You can change your web browser from here. ^{[1]
X
Research source}

4

Select a browser from the "Default web browser" menu.

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/b\/be\/Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/b\/be\/Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-7.jpg\/aid78414-v4-728px-Change-the-Default-Web-Browser-on-a-Mac-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":344,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":544,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
Click the menu that says "Safari" and choose your preferred browser. As long as the browser is installed on your computer and is up to date, it should show up as an option here.
- If you don't see the browser that you want to use, restart your Mac and then re-open the System Preferences window to try again.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

My Mac 10.7.5 is too old for supported Safari or Chrome. What browsers can I use?

Community Answer

Firefox is still supported on old versions of OSX. This is important for old apple computers that can't update to the latest version of OSX.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4
Question

Where is the browser located on the screen?

Community Answer

That depends on what browser you are looking for and where you have saved it. You can usually find 'Safari' already installed on the dock, but if not, you can always go to the 'Applications' folder on Finder and move it into the dock from there.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 3 Helpful 2
Question

How do I set safari as the default?

Margaret Althea Elvenshadow

Community Answer

Open Safari. Click "Safari" in the Apple menu at the top of your screen. Go to "Preferences>General>Default Web Browser," and click the option you want.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 14 Helpful 2

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera are all good choices for an alternative browser.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Some web browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer) don't work on a Mac.

Thanks
Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

[1]

Log in

How to Change the Default Web Browser on a Mac

Steps

Install your preferred web browser.

Open your Mac's System Preferences.

Click the "General" icon.

Select a browser from the "Default web browser" menu.

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Is this article up to date?

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories