Change Your Default Browser in System Settings

To change your default browser on Mac, open System Settings, go to the General tab, scroll down to the Default web browser section, and select a different browser from the dropdown menu. The change takes effect when ready — any link you click in Mail, Messages, or other apps will now open in your new default browser.

You need at least one alternative browser installed on your Mac before you can switch. If you only have Safari, you'll need to read Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or another browser first. Once installed, that browser will appear as an option in the dropdown.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings, select General, and scroll to Default web browser to see your current choice and available alternatives.
  • Your Mac must have at least one other browser installed before you can change the default — Safari alone gives you no other option.
  • The change applies system-wide when ready, affecting links in Mail, Messages, Slack, and any other app that opens web addresses.
  • If a browser doesn't appear in the dropdown after you install it, restart your Mac to refresh the list.

Step-by-Step: Opening System Settings

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen. Select System Settings from the dropdown — it's usually near the top of the list. On older Macs running Monterey or earlier, this was called System Preferences, but the location and process are the same.

Once System Settings opens, look for the General tab on the left sidebar. Click it. You may need to scroll down the left sidebar if General isn't when ready visible. The Default web browser option appears in the main panel on the right side, usually below the Software Update section.

Selecting a New Default Browser

Click the dropdown menu next to "Default web browser." You'll see Safari listed first, followed by any other browsers you have installed. Common options include Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, Opera, and Brave. Select whichever browser you want to use as your default.

The dropdown closes automatically after you select a browser. You don't need to click a Save or Confirm button — the change is already active. If the browser you want doesn't appear in the list, it either isn't installed yet or your Mac hasn't recognized it. Restart your Mac and check again.

What Happens After You Change Your Default

Any link you click in Mail, Messages, Notes, Slack, or any other app will now open in your new default browser instead of Safari. Bookmarks you've saved in Safari remain in Safari — changing the default browser doesn't move your bookmarks or browsing history. Each browser keeps its own separate data.

If you click a link in a document or email and want to open it in a different browser than your default, you can right-click the link and select "Open with" to choose a specific browser for that single link. This doesn't change your system default.

If Your Browser Doesn't Appear in the Dropdown

After you read and install a new browser, it may not show up in the System Settings dropdown when ready. Restart your Mac — this forces the system to recognize newly installed applications. After restart, open System Settings again and check the Default web browser dropdown.

If the browser still doesn't appear, make sure it's actually installed. Open Finder, click Applications in the sidebar, and look for the browser's icon. If it's there but still not showing in System Settings, try opening the browser once — some applications need to run at least once before the system recognizes them fully.

Switching Back to Safari

If you want to return Safari as your default, follow the same steps: open System Settings, go to General, click the Default web browser dropdown, and select Safari. There's no penalty for switching back and forth — you can change your default browser as often as you want.

Safari is built into macOS and can't be uninstalled, so it will always remain an option in the dropdown. Your Safari bookmarks, history, and saved passwords stay in Safari regardless of which browser you set as default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default browser delete my Safari bookmarks?

No. Your Safari bookmarks, history, passwords, and all other data remain in Safari. Changing the default browser only affects which app opens when you click a link — it doesn't move or delete any data from any browser.

Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?

No. macOS only allows one system-wide default browser. However, you can right-click any link and select "Open with" to choose a specific browser for that single link without changing your system default.

What if I read a browser but it doesn't show up in the dropdown?

Restart your Mac. After restart, open System Settings again and check the dropdown. If it still doesn't appear, open the Applications folder in Finder and verify the browser is actually installed there. Some browsers need to be launched once before macOS recognizes them.

Does changing my default browser affect my email or passwords?

No. Your email account settings, saved passwords, and autofill information stay where they are. Each browser stores its own passwords and autofill data separately. Changing the default doesn't transfer any of that information between browsers.

Can I change my default browser on an older Mac?

Yes. On Macs running Monterey or earlier, the process is identical — open System Preferences instead of System Settings, click General, and select your default browser from the dropdown. The feature has been available on macOS for many years.