How to Change the Default Web Browser on a Mac

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.

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  1. 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:
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2

Open your Mac's System Preferences.

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  1. The System Preferences panel is where you can change your default Mac apps, including your default web browser.
3

Click the "General" icon.

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  1. You can change your web browser from here. [1]
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4

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

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  1. 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

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  • 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.
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    Not Helpful 2 Helpful 5
  • 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.
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    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.
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      • Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera are all good choices for an alternative browser.
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      References

      1. ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201607

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Download and install your preferred browser.
      2. Click the Apple menu icon.
      3. Click System Preferences...
      4. Click General
      5. Click the "Default Web Browser" drop-down box.
      6. Click your preferred browser.

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