To change your default browser in Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Default apps, select the browser you want, and select Set default. Windows then opens web links and web files in that browser. The browser must already be installed. These steps match Microsoft’s default apps guide.
How to Change the Default Browser in Windows 11
- Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
- Select Apps, then Default apps.
- Under Set defaults for applications, type the browser’s name in the search box, such as Chrome or Firefox, and select it.
- Select Set default at the top of the page, next to “Make Google Chrome your default browser” (the wording shows your browser’s name).
The browser is now your default. Links you click in email, chat apps, and documents open in it. To check, click a link in any app and see which browser opens.
Set the Default From Inside the Browser
- Chrome: open the three-dot menu, select Settings > Default browser, and select Make default.
- Firefox: open the menu, select Settings, and under General select Make Default.
- Edge: open Settings and more (…) > Settings > Default browser and select Make default.
Each one opens the same Default apps page in Windows Settings, where you select Set default to finish. For Chrome specifically, see how to make Google Chrome the default browser in Windows 11.
Change a Single Link or File Type
The list under Set default file types or link types shows each type the browser can open, such as .htm, .html, .pdf, HTTP, and HTTPS.
- Select the entry you want to change.
- Choose a different app and select Set default.
For example, you can keep Chrome as your browser but open PDFs in Adobe Acrobat. See how to change the default PDF viewer in Windows 11 for that.
Some Links Still Open in Microsoft Edge
A few parts of Windows, such as some links in Windows Search and Widgets, may still open Microsoft Edge no matter which browser you choose. In the European Economic Area, Windows sends more of these links to your default browser.
Make Outlook and Teams Links Open in Your Browser
Outlook and Teams have their own setting that can send links to Edge even after you change the Windows default. Microsoft’s support page on this lists where to change it:
- New Outlook: Settings > General > Files and links, then set Open hyperlinks from Outlook in to Default browser.
- Classic Outlook: File > Options > Advanced > File and browser preferences, then the same Open hyperlinks from Outlook in menu.
- Teams: Settings > Files and links > Link open preferences.
Outlook and Teams share this setting, so changing it in one changes both.
If Your Default Browser Keeps Changing Back
- Update your preferred browser, then set it as the default again in Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- When Edge or another browser asks to become the default, choose Not now or close the prompt instead of accepting.
- After a big Windows update, open the Default apps page and confirm your browser is still selected.
- Check that HTTP and HTTPS in your browser’s list are both set to it, since those decide where links open.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did my default browser change back?
A browser update, a Windows update, or a reset of default apps can change it. Follow the steps in the section above, then set it again.
Can I use Firefox or another browser?
Yes. Any installed browser appears in the Default apps list. Search for its name and select Set default.
Does this change my default search engine?
No. The default browser decides which app opens links, while the search engine is set inside each browser. To change it, see how to change the search engine on Windows 11 or, for Edge, how to set Google as the default search engine in Microsoft Edge.
Can I uninstall Microsoft Edge?
In most regions, Edge is part of Windows 11 and can’t be fully removed, but you don’t need to use it once another browser is your default.
Want Edge gone completely? See how to remove Edge from Windows 11 for what’s possible in your region.
Matthew Burleigh is the founder, head writer, and editor of Solve Your Tech, which he launched in 2012. He has written technology tutorials since 2008 and worked in IT since 2003, including small-business support, IT management, and consulting. He holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science from Arizona State University.
Matthew writes practical guides for Windows, iPhone and iPad, Microsoft Office, Outlook, Google apps, and Android. Solve Your Tech’s guides are tested on current devices or checked against official product documentation, with clear steps, sources, and update dates.
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