How To Set The Default Browser For Windows - Instructions And Tips With Photos And Videos

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

How to choose and change the default browser

Most users have more than one browser installed on their computer. At a minimum, there is usually a standard Edge installed on all Windows 10 computers, and whichever one is more convenient, chosen by the user. Therefore, the system provides ways to tell the computer which browser is the main one.

Why choose your default browser

Users with more than one browser, when opening any file intended for display in a browser, will encounter the message: "What program should I use to run this file?" It appears because the computer does not know which browser is best to use. In order not to face a similar question every time, you should choose your own browser, which will be used by default.

You can find out which browser is set as the default application at the moment using the computer settings. This method is described below in the subsection "Setting the default browser through computer settings" (or other methods for other versions of Windows). You can also understand this by opening any file for display in a browser. Which browser will open this file is the one selected by default.

Setting the default browser

There are several ways to tell the system which browser is preferred. Using any of them, you will achieve the same result. In the future, you can easily change your choice by following the same steps, but specifying a different browser at the end.

Through the control panel (before Windows 8)

This method is relevant for those who use Windows older than 8 or 10, that is, owners of Windows 7, XP, Vista.

1. Expand the control panel from the start menu.

   

   Opening the control panel

2. Find the "Default Programs" tab.

   

   Open the section "Programs by default"

3. Click on the Set Default Programs button to go to the default application settings.

   

   Press the button "Set default programs"

4. Find the most convenient browser for you in the list of utilities, select it and click on the "Use this program as default" button.

   

   Press the button "Use this program as default"

Done, now all files of a suitable format will immediately open in the browser of your choice. If you want to change your selection, return to the above menu again.

Via computer settings (Windows 10 only)

This method is relevant only for Windows 10 users, since this method is not implemented in previous versions of the system.

1. Expand Computer Options. You can find the Settings app through the system search bar.

   

   We open the program "Parameters"

2. Go to the "Applications" block.

   

   Open the section "Applications"

3. Select the "Default Applications" sub-item. Find the "Browser" section in the expanded list and select the browser that you like the most.

   

   Open the "Programs by default" section and select the browser

In the future, you can return to the above section and change your choice.

Video: Choosing a Default Browser

Via browser settings (for all Windows versions)

All modern browsers build in their settings a function that allows them to set themselves as the default browser. After going into the settings of your favorite browser, you can set it as the main one.

Yandex browser

1. Expand the Yandex Browser menu by clicking on the icon in the form of three parallel lines in the upper right corner of the window, and go to the "Settings" section.

   

   Open Yandex Browser settings

2. Scroll down the page with the settings to the "Default browser" section and click on the "Make Yandex default browser" button. Done, settings changed.

   

   Press the button "Make Yandex the default browser"

Google chrome

1. Expand your browser and go to its settings.

2. Scroll down to the Default Browser section and set this browser as your default application. Done, parameters changed.

   

   Go to settings and set the default browser

Opera

1. Click on the Opera logo to open the menu and go to settings.

   

   Opening Opera settings

2. Find the "Set as default browser" button and click on it. Done, settings changed.

   

   Press the button "Set as default browser"

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open your browser settings.

   

   Click on the "Settings" block

2. In the "General" section, click on the "Set as default" button.

   

   Press the button "Set as default"

There are several ways to select the default browser. In Windows 7 and earlier, the change is made using the Control Panel, in Windows 10, through the computer settings. Regardless of the Windows version, you can select the default browser through the settings of the browser itself.