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macOS · Settings

How to change the default web browser on Mac

Open System Settings › Desktop & Dock, scroll to Default web browser, and choose an installed browser. On older macOS releases, the control may appear in General instead.

Direct answer

Open System Settings › Desktop & Dock, scroll to Default web browser, and choose an installed browser. On older macOS releases, the control may appear in General instead.

What this covers

  • Supported macOS releases with an eligible browser installed
  • Current supported consumer software as reviewed on August 20, 2026
  • The symptom described in the title before a factory reset or hardware repair

What it does not cover

  • ×In-app web views that intentionally open inside their host app
  • ×Billing, ownership, warranty or account-recovery disputes
  • ×Regional features that the manufacturer does not list for your country
Try in this order0 of 4 completed

  1. Install and open the browser

    Reversible

    Open the browser once and complete any first-run prompt so macOS can list it.

  2. Open Desktop & Dock settings

    Reversible

    Choose Apple menu › System Settings › Desktop & Dock and scroll through the options.

  3. Choose Default web browser

    Reversible

    Select the installed browser from the Default web browser menu. On older macOS, check General settings.

  4. Test a link from another app

    Reversible

    Open a web link from Mail, Notes or Messages and confirm it opens in the selected browser.

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 SupportMake Safari your default web browser on Mac

Official location of the default-browser control; the same menu lists eligible browsers.

Exact questions

Common follow-ups

What should I try first for how to change the default web browser on mac?+

Open the browser once and complete any first-run prompt so macOS can list it.

Will these steps erase apps, files or settings?+

No data-erasing step is required in this sequence. Changing the default browser is reversible and does not remove Safari or browsing data.

When should I stop troubleshooting?+

Stop if the device reports hardware damage, becomes unusually hot, smells burnt, or the problem falls into this excluded case: In-app web views that intentionally open inside their host app.

Change recordAug. 17, 2026 — Published a source-linked sequence for how to change the default web browser on mac, with consequences shown before sign-out or reset steps.
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