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iPhone & iPad · Settings path

How to change the default browser on iPhone or iPad

On current iOS and iPadOS, open Settings, choose Apps, then Default Apps and Browser App. The alternate browser must be installed and support the default-browser role.

Direct answer

On a current iPhone or iPad, go to Settings › Apps › Default Apps › Browser App, then choose the browser. If Default Apps is missing, update iOS or iPadOS and confirm that another eligible browser is installed.

What this covers

  • iPhone and iPad updated to a current iOS or iPadOS release
  • Installed browsers that support selection as the default
  • Web links opened from other apps

What it does not cover

  • ×Changing the search engine inside Safari
  • ×Changing a Mac’s default browser
  • ×In-app browsers that ignore the system default
Try in this order0 of 4 completed

  1. Install and open the browser once

    Reversible

    Install the browser you want to use. Open it once so any first-run setup is complete and the app is eligible to appear in Default Apps.

  2. Open the Default Apps panel

    Reversible

    Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Default Apps at the top of the apps list.

  3. Choose Browser App

    Reversible

    Tap Browser App, then select the browser you want to use. Follow any additional on-screen steps shown by iOS or the browser.

  4. Test a web link

    Reversible

    Open a web link from Mail, Messages or Notes. Confirm it opens in the selected browser rather than an in-app preview.

Evidence ledger

Sources behind this answer

Visible sources support the visible claims. Home Product Support records the publisher, the fact used and the review date; community reports can suggest an issue but do not become a published fact on their own.

01
Apple SupportChange your default apps for features on iPhone and iPad

Current Apps › Default Apps path; published December 18, 2025.

Exact questions

Common follow-ups

Why can’t I see Default Apps on my iPhone?+

Apple says the Default Apps settings require the latest version of iOS or iPadOS. Update the device and make sure an eligible alternative browser is installed.

Does changing the default browser remove Safari?+

No. It changes which eligible app opens web links by default; it does not uninstall Safari or erase Safari history.

Is the default search engine the same setting?+

No. Browser App chooses the app that opens links. Search Engine changes the provider used for searches inside a browser.

Change recordAug. 17, 2026 — Verified Apple’s consolidated Default Apps path and separated browser selection from search-engine selection.
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