FIX: Why Does My Default Browser Keep Changing in Windows?

Every reason we could think of

Despite using Chrome, Firefox, or another third-party browser in Windows 10 or 11, you may run into instances where the default web browser changes (or appears to change) without your permission. There are several reasons for this.

Microsoft relies on pushy tactics that force you to use Microsoft Edge in various parts of the operating system. Additionally, broken configurations, browser hijackers, and conflicting settings can adversely impact your default program preferences.

Read on to learn what you can do to stop your default browser from changing on a PC running Windows 10 or Windows 11.

Double-Check Default Browser Settings

It’s best to kick things off by double-checking the default browser settings on your PC. For example, updating the operating system could revert your default application preferences, and there’s nothing you can do about it except reconfigure them again.

  1. Open theStartmenu and selectSettings.

  2. SelectApps>Default apps.

  3. Scroll down to theWeb browsersection.

  4. Set your preferred browser as the default.

  5. Open theStartmenu and selectSettings.

  6. SelectApps>Default apps.

  7. Scroll down and select your preferred browser—e.g.,Google Chrome.

  8. ReplaceMicrosoft Edge(or the current default browser) with your preferred browser for each web-related protocol and file type.

Set Default Browser as Administrator

Another way to resolve issues with automatically changing default browser settings involves reconfiguring them with administrative privileges.

  1. Right-clickStartand selectTask Manager.

  2. SelectMore details.

  3. Under the “Processes” tab, right-clickWindows Explorerand selectEnd Task.

  4. SelectFile>Run new taskon the Task Manager menu.

  5. Typeexplorer.exeinto the “Create new task” pop-up, check the box next toCreate this task with administrative privileges, and selectOK.

  6. Repeat the steps in the above section to set your preferred browser as the default.

Alternative Way to Set a Default Browser (Windows 10 Only)

In Windows 10, you can try an alternative method to set your default browser.

  1. Open theStartmenu and selectSettings>Apps>Default apps.

  2. Scroll down and selectSet defaults by app.

  3. Locate and select your preferred browser.

  4. Set it as the default for each web-related protocol and file type.

Use EdgeDeflector

Despite having a different browser set up as the default, Windows 10/11 will forcibly load Microsoft Edge if you interact with native features and apps such as theNews and Weather widgetandYour Phone. The only way to circumvent that requires using an open-source helper application called EdgeDeflector. However, at the time of writing, it only works on Windows 10.

  1. Download and installEdgeDeflectorfrom GitHub.

  2. Open theSettingsapp and go toApps>Defaults apps.

  3. Scroll down and selectChoose default apps by protocol.

  4. Locate and selectMICROSOFT-EDGE.

  5. SelectEdgeDeflectoron the “Choose an app” drop-down menu.

Disable Internet Explorer

If the default browser on your computer automatically changes to the obsolete Internet Explorer, just remove it from your computer.

  1. Open theStartmenu,and typeTurnWindows features on or off. Then, selectOpen.

  2. Clear the checkbox next toInternet Explorer 11.

  3. SelectOK.

Note: You can also open the Windows Features dialog box via theControl Panel.

Scan for Malware

Scanning your computer for malware can help remove browser hijackers and other malicious software that modify your computer’s default browser settings. Instead ofusing Windows Security, we recommendusing a third-party dedicated malware removeror antivirus utility. Here’s the free version of Malwarebytes in action.

  1. Download and installMalwarebytes.

  2. Open Malwarebytes and selectScanner>Advanced Scanners>Configure Scan.

  3. Select your computer’s primary drive or partition and selectScan.

Run Malware Scan via Chrome

Using Chrome, you can also scan for harmful software using a built-in clean-up tool. The feature is not present in the macOS version of Chrome.

  1. Open theChromemenu(select three dots at the top-right of the Chrome browser window) and selectSettings.

  2. SelectAdvanced>Reset and clean upon the sidebar.

  3. SelectClean up computer>Find.

Update Your Preferred Browser

If the issue persists, try updating your preferred browser and re-configure your default app preferences. Here’s how to update the two most popular third-party browsers for Windows 10 and 11.

Google Chrome: Open theChromemenuand selectHelp>About Google Chrome. You can also update other Chromium-based browsers such as Opera and Brave the same way.

Mozilla Firefox: Open theFirefoxmenuand selectSettings>General>Check for updates.

Reset Your Preferred Browser

Broken or corrupt Chrome or Firefox settings can also prevent it from remaining as the default Windows browser. Try reverting the browser to factory defaults and check if that helps. But before you do that, make sure to sync your browsing data to your Google Account orFirefox Account.

Google Chrome: Open theChromemenuand selectSettings>Advanced>Reset and clean up>Reset all Settings.

Mozilla Firefox: Open theFirefox menuand selectHelp>More troubleshooting information. Then, selectRefresh Firefox.

What Else Can You Do?

If none of the above fixes help and your default browser keeps changing, here’s what you can do next:

If you also have trouble where the homepage or default search engine keeps changing to Yahoo, learn how to fix that.

Dilum Senevirathne is a freelance tech writer and blogger with three years of experience writing for online technology publications. He specializes in topics related to iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and Google web apps. When he isn’t hammering away at his Magic Keyboard, you can catch him binge-watching productivity hacks on YouTube.Read Dilum’s Full Bio

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