To make Google Chrome your default browser in Windows 11, open Settings, go to Apps > Default apps, search for Chrome, select Google Chrome, and select Set default at the top. After that, links you click in email, documents, and other apps open in Chrome.
These steps follow Google’s Chrome help page and Microsoft’s Change default apps in Windows article, checked in October 2026. They work the same in Windows 11 24H2 and 25H2. If you do not have Chrome yet, download and install it first, because Chrome will not appear in the list until it is installed.
How to Make Chrome the Default Browser in Windows 11
- Select Start, then Settings. You can also press Windows + I.
- Select Apps, then Default apps.
- In the search box under Set defaults for applications, type Chrome.
- Select Google Chrome. Result: a page opens listing every file and link type Chrome can handle.
- At the top, next to Make Google Chrome your default browser, select Set default. Result: the button changes to show Chrome is now the default.
- Scroll through the list under Set default file types or link types. Google recommends checking it so the change applies to the right types. The important ones are HTTP, HTTPS, .htm, and .html.
Google also suggests pinning Chrome to the taskbar so you can open it with one click: open Chrome, right-click its taskbar icon, and select Pin to taskbar.
Start From Chrome Instead
You can also begin inside Chrome. Open the three-dot menu at the top right, select Settings > Default browser, and select Make default. Chrome then opens the same Windows Default apps page, where you finish with Set default. Chrome may also show a banner offering to become your default when you open it.
How to Confirm Chrome Is Now the Default
- Go back to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Google Chrome and check that the top says Chrome is your default.
- Click a web link in an email or a document. It should open in a Chrome tab.
- In Chrome, go to Settings > Default browser. It should say Chrome is your default browser.
If Links Still Open in Microsoft Edge
Check the individual link types
On the Google Chrome page in Default apps, look for any type that still lists Microsoft Edge, such as HTTPS or .pdf. Select it and choose Chrome. Any type left on Edge keeps opening in Edge.
Links in Outlook and Teams
Microsoft opens web links from Outlook emails and Teams chats in Edge by default, even when Chrome is your Windows default, so it can show the email next to the page. To use Chrome instead:
- New Outlook: select Settings > General > Files and links, then choose your browser under Open hyperlinks from Outlook in.
- Classic Outlook: select File > Options > Advanced > File and browser preferences, then choose your browser under Open hyperlinks from Outlook in.
Microsoft notes that changing this in Outlook also changes it for Teams.
Windows Search and Widgets
Some built-in Windows features, such as web results in Windows Search and stories in Widgets, may still open in Edge depending on your region and Windows version. That is a Windows behavior, not a problem with your setting.
Chrome is not in the list
Make sure Chrome is fully installed and up to date, then close and reopen Settings. If it still does not appear, reinstall Chrome from Google.
The default changes back
If Edge takes over again after a Windows update, repeat the steps above and recheck the link types. On a work or school computer, your organization may control the default browser, so ask your IT department.
Want Google Search in Edge Instead?
If you like Edge but want Google results, you do not need to switch browsers. Change Edge’s search engine instead. See how to make Google the default in Edge or how to change the search engine on Windows 11.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does making Chrome the default delete Edge?
No. Edge stays installed, and you can switch back anytime by selecting Microsoft Edge in Default apps and choosing Set default.
Why do some links still open in Edge?
Usually a link type is still set to Edge, or the link came from Outlook or Teams, which have their own browser setting.
Can I set defaults for other apps too?
Yes. See how to change default apps in Windows 11.
Switching to a browser other than Chrome? Our general guide to changing the default browser in Windows 11 works for any browser, including Firefox and Edge. Once Chrome is your default, you can also turn down its address bar predictions.
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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