Google Chrome is a cross-platform web browser developed by Google.

It features a minimalistic user interface, with its user-interface principles later being implemented into other browsers. For example, the merging of the address bar and search bar into the Omnibox or omnibar.

Chrome also has a strong browser performance and comes with the best utility features because of its huge library of extensions and add-on features.

Switching the default browser settings to Google Chrome enables one to enjoy the variety of plug-ins and extensions available. It’s also suitable if you’re invested in the Google ecosystem.

As a default web browser, an application launches automatically when you click on a Web page, link, or document.

Set Google Chrome the Default Browser on Mac

Fire up Chrome and click Chrome then Preferences from the menu bar or press Cmd+, (comma) to go to the settings menu directly.

1. From the panel on the left side, click “Default Browser”.
2. Under the Default Browser section, click “Make Default”.
3. A dialog box will appear asking if you want to change your default web browser. Click “Use Chrome”.
   
4. If you don’t see the “Make default” button, then Chrome is already your default web browser.

Set Google Chrome the Default Browser on iPhone/iPad

Starting with iOS 14, you can set any installed web browser as the default browser app in iOS.

Follow the steps below to set Chrome as the default browser app on iPhone/iPad:

1. Navigate to the Settings app on iOS
2. Scroll down and select Chrome to open the App Settings page.
3. Tap on the Default Browser App menu.
4. Choose the Chrome app from the list of available browsers to set it as a default browser app.

Google Chrome app is free in the iOS App Store. First, install it on your phone to use it.

Set Google Chrome the Default Browser on Android

Most Android phones come with Google Chrome already pre-installed as the default web browser. However, some devices have custom ROMs that override browser defaults. You may need to install Google Chrome from the Play Store if it isn’t already installed.

• Next, open the Android Settings app, scroll until you see “Apps,” and then tap on it.
• Now, tap on “Default Apps.”
• Scroll until you see the setting labeled “Browser” and then tap on it to choose your default browser, then select “Chrome.”

Then exit the settings. The next time you tap a link, it will open inside Chrome as a default browser.

Set Google Chrome the Default Browser on Windows

All Windows PC comes with their default apps. The positive side of having default apps is they often have a very light footprint and provide you with overall solid performance for your machine compared to their third-party counterpart.

In Windows 8, 7, and Vista

Setting Google Chrome as a default web browser is a bit different in early Windows versions. The multiple version upgrades have improvised the Windows OS over some time, resulting in a change in the navigation UI as well as settings options.

Follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Start menu and open the Control Panel.
2. Click Programs.
3. Choose Default Programs and then click on the Set Default Programs.
   
4. Among the available list, select the Google Chrome program.
5. Then select Set this program as the default option.

Hit on the OK button and you are done.

With Windows 8 and earlier, all app settings are in the control panel. Just like you will need to use the control panel to uninstall an app, you will also use it to set an app as default.

In Windows 10

1. On your computer, click the Start menu.
2. Click on the Settings.
3. Open your default apps:
   • Original version: Click System, then Default apps.
   • Creator’s Update: Click Apps, then Default apps.
4. At the bottom, under “Web browser,” click your current browser.
   
5. In the “Choose an app” window, click Google Chrome.

In Windows 11:

1. Go to the Start menu, then click Settings.
   1. Alternatively, you can also press Windows + I shortcut on your keyboard to directly open the ‘Settings’ app.
2. Click Apps, then Default Apps tile present on the ‘Apps’ settings screen.
   
3. To select Google Chrome as your default app, search for a particular file type, or you can search for the ‘Chrome’ app and select the file types it should open by default.
4. Click on the search bar present at the top of the window and enter your desired file type. For example .html, .html, .shtml, .xhtml, HTTP, and HTTPS.
5. The current default app set to open the entered file type will appear on the screen.
   • Change the default app for the selected file type to Chrome, click on the current default app set for the file type right under the search bar.
     
6. Then, choose ‘Google Chrome’ from the overlay menu and click ‘OK’ to apply the changes.
   
7. Close the settings window to exit.

To make Chrome default for all the supported file/link types, locate the Chrome App manually or search using the search bar present in the default apps settings screen.

1. Click on it to see all the supported file types in a list format.
2. Click on the individual default app option under each extension on the screen.
3. On the overlay menu, click OK to choose Chrome. Repeat the same process for all the file extensions or link types you want to be opened by default using Google Chrome.

Another option is through inside the browser itself.

1. When you open the browser, tap on the three dots in the upper right corner of the browser screen.
2. Go to Settings, on the overflow menu.
3. A “default browser” option is on the left section of the Chrome window. Click on it.
4. Now, click on the ‘Make default’ button present on the screen.
5. The “Default Apps” window in the system “settings” will pop up, then follow the above steps.

With new competitors and longtime entries coming up with new technologies, conveniences, protections, and features, the choice of browser software always remains important.

Chrome is now the most dominant, and almost all other browsers use its underlying Chromium rendering code.