PcFixin'

How to Change the Default Browser in Windows 11

By PcFixin' · July 17, 2026 · Windows · Windows 11, default browser, Google Chrome

Choose Chrome, Firefox, or another browser so web links and common web files open there automatically instead of Microsoft Edge.

What changing your default browser does

Your default browser is the app Windows automatically uses when you open a web link from email, a document, a chat message, or most other programs. Windows 11 starts with Microsoft Edge as the default, but you can switch to Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Brave, Opera, or another installed browser.

Changing this setting does not remove Edge, delete your bookmarks, or affect websites you visit. It simply tells Windows which browser you prefer for everyday links. Before starting, make sure your preferred browser is already installed.

Set your preferred browser as the default

These instructions assume Windows 11 is up to date. Microsoft has adjusted the Default apps screen over time, so an older Windows 11 installation may show more individual file and link options. Installing available Windows updates should give you the simpler Set default button.

1. Open Settings by pressing Windows key + I. You can also open Start and select Settings.
2. Select Apps in the left-hand menu, then choose Default apps.
3. In the search box under Set defaults for applications, type the name of your browser, such as Chrome or Firefox.
4. Select the browser from the search results.
5. Click Set default near the top of the browser’s settings page.
6. Close Settings. Your preferred browser should now open standard web links and common webpage files.

Another way: start inside the browser

Most browsers can take you to the correct Windows setting. In Chrome, Firefox, or another browser, open its settings and look for an option labeled Make default or Make default browser. Because Windows controls app defaults, the browser will usually open the Windows 11 Default apps page rather than changing everything by itself.

If Windows asks you to confirm your choice or displays a message about trying Edge, choose the option that keeps your selected browser. The wording can vary between Windows versions.

Change individual link and file types

If some items still open in Edge, return to Settings > Apps > Default apps and select your preferred browser. Below the Set default button, Windows lists the associations the browser can handle. An association is simply a rule connecting a link or file type to an app.

For normal browsing, check HTTP and HTTPS. These are the link types used by websites. You may also see .htm and .html, which are webpage files saved on your computer. To change one manually, select its current app, choose your preferred browser from the list, and confirm the change.

Other file types are optional. For example, .pdf files may be assigned to Edge, a web browser, Adobe Acrobat Reader, or another PDF app. Changing your default browser does not always change your PDF reader, so set .pdf separately if you also want downloaded PDF documents to open in the browser.

Be careful not to reassign unfamiliar file types just because they appear in the list. HTTP, HTTPS, .htm, and .html are the main choices related to ordinary web browsing.

If the default browser keeps changing or does not work

First, restart Windows and test a link from another app. If the wrong browser still opens, revisit Default apps and confirm that HTTP and HTTPS show your preferred browser. You can also update the browser itself, because an incomplete installation may prevent it from registering correctly with Windows.

Windows updates normally preserve your choice, but a browser update or newly installed app may ask to become the default. Read those prompts before accepting them. You can always return to Settings > Apps > Default apps to restore your preference.

A few Microsoft features may still open Edge even after you change the default. Depending on your Windows 11 version, links from widgets, Windows Search, or certain Microsoft services can use a special Microsoft link type. That behavior does not necessarily mean your normal default-browser setting failed. Test a standard link from an email, document, or messaging app for a more reliable check.

Your bookmarks and passwords will not move automatically

Changing the default only controls which app opens links. It does not automatically transfer bookmarks, browsing history, saved passwords, or extensions from Edge. If you want those items in your new browser, look for an Import option in that browser’s settings. Most popular browsers can import data directly from Edge after you give permission.

Bottom line

Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, select your preferred browser, and click Set default. If anything still opens in Edge, check the HTTP, HTTPS, .htm, and .html associations individually.