Change Your Default Web Browser on macOS Easily (All Versions)

Every Mac user has their preferences when it comes to web browsing. Whether you’re a fan of Google Chrome‘s integration with Google services, the privacy features of Firefox, or the speed and simplicity of Brave, macOS gives you the flexibility to set the browser of your choice as the default. This simple yet crucial personalization makes your workflow smoother, as all links from emails, documents, and apps open automatically in your preferred browser.

TLDR

Changing your default web browser on macOS is a quick and easy process, regardless of the version you’re using. For macOS Mojave and later, head into System Preferences and adjust your default browser under the General settings. For older versions, you might need to change this setting from within your preferred browser. Either way, we walk you through the steps to do it for every major version of macOS.

Why Change Your Default Browser?

You might want to change your default browser for several reasons:

• Speed and Performance: Some browsers are faster or more lightweight than Safari.
• Privacy Concerns: Browsers like Firefox or Brave offer better tracking protection.
• Compatibility: Certain websites or extensions work better with specific browsers.
• Feature Set: Features like tab grouping, extensions, password managers, or developer tools can influence your choice.

Regardless of your reason, macOS makes the switch relatively simple once you know where to look.

Quick Overview: How to Change the Default Browser on macOS

The method depends slightly on your macOS version. Let’s break it down:

• macOS Mojave (10.14) and later: Change via System Preferences.
• Older macOS versions: Change from within the browser itself, usually during installation or setup.

Let’s dive deeper into each version and the specific steps you need to follow.

How to Change Your Default Browser on macOS Mojave (10.14) and Later

This method works for most recent macOS releases, including Catalina, Big Sur, Monterey, Ventura, and Sonoma. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and choose System Preferences.
2. Click on General.
3. Look for the Default web browser dropdown menu.
4. Click the dropdown and select your preferred browser (e.g., Chrome, Firefox, Brave).

That’s it! Any application that opens web links will now launch them in the selected browser.

How to Change Your Default Browser in macOS High Sierra and Earlier

For macOS High Sierra (10.13) and any earlier versions, the process is slightly different because those versions don’t always have a default browser setting in the System Preferences.

Instead, you can usually set your default browser from within the browser itself the first time you open it. For example:

Using Google Chrome:

1. Open Google Chrome.
2. If it’s not set as the default browser, you’ll see a prompt asking you to set it as default.
3. Click Use Chrome as my default browser.

Using Mozilla Firefox:

1. Launch Firefox.
2. Go to Firefox menu > Preferences.
3. Under the General section, click Make Default….

Note: You must have administrative privileges on your Mac to change some system settings, including your default web browser.

Changing Back to Safari

If you’ve decided to go back to Apple’s own Safari browser for performance or integration reasons, the process is just as simple:

1. Go to System Preferences > General.
2. Under Default web browser, select Safari from the dropdown list.

Safari also prompts you to set it as your default browser when you open it, especially if another browser currently holds that status.

Troubleshooting Tips

Sometimes, your preferred browser may not show up in the list of available options. Here are a few steps to fix that:

• Ensure the browser is installed: macOS only displays browsers that are installed properly.
• Restart the browser: If it doesn’t show up in the list, try quitting and reopening it.
• Restart your Mac: Occasionally, a simple reboot can refresh system settings.
• Upgrade macOS: If you’re running a very old version, some modern browsers may not integrate as fully.

Managing Default Browser Settings via Terminal (Advanced Users)

For advanced users or administrators managing multiple Macs in an enterprise setting, you can also change the default browser via Terminal using the defaultbrowser command-line utility.

Here’s a quick overview:

1. Install the utility: You can install it via Homebrew by running: brew install defaultbrowser
2. List available browsers: Use defaultbrowser -l to list all registered browsers.
3. Set the default: Use defaultbrowser [browsername], replacing [browsername] with the actual browser identifier.

This is useful for bulk configuration or inclusion in deployment scripts.

Bonus: Manage Specific Link Types in Browsers

While macOS allows you to change your system-wide default browser, some browsers let you customize how specific links (like mailto: or tel:) are handled. For example:

• Chrome: Go to Settings > Privacy and security > Site Settings > Additional permissions > Protocol handlers.
• Firefox: Settings > General > Applications lets you handle mailto links, PDFs, and more.

These settings add even more granularity to your browsing environment, letting you control your default browser behavior in specific cases.

Final Thoughts

Switching your default browser on macOS is a small tweak that can have a significant impact on your productivity and user experience. Whether you’re after better security, faster performance, more customization options, or simply a fresh look and feel, today’s browsers offer something for everyone.

macOS doesn’t restrict you to staying with Safari—so don’t hesitate to explore the other great options out there. Once you find your browser of choice, setting it as the default only takes a few clicks.

Have fun surfing the web, your way!