How To Change the Default Web Browser in Windows 11 or 10
Firefox is easy, the rest not so much
Setting a browser other than Edge as the default browser in Windows 11 is proving to be difficult.Edgeis a good browser, sure, but it may not be the browser you want. With therelease of Windows 11, now’s the time to figure out how to make your favorite browser the default browser in Windows 11.
If your favorite browser isFirefox, this is simple and easy. However, if your favorite browser is Chrome,Opera,Brave, or analternative browser, it takes significantly more work to set it as the default web browser in Windows 11.
How To Make Firefox the Default Web Browser in Windows 10 and 11
Mozilla, makers of Firefox, weren’t happy with Windows 11 requiring people to select the default browser for each file type. So Mozilla came up with a workaround. It also works in Windows 10.
That’s it. Firefox is the default browser now for .htm, and .html file types and links that begin with http and https. Continue with the rest of the Firefox setup.
How To Make Other Browsers the Default Browser in Windows 10 and 11
If a browser other than Chrome is being installed, open Default apps manually. Select theStartmenu and start typingdefault apps. The top result should beDefault apps. Select it.
Follow the steps below forWindows 11. Skip down for Windows 10 instructions.
Note that when the default browser is changed for the HTTP link type, Windows automatically changes it for the HTTPS link type.
Follow these steps forWindows 10.
The default browser is now changed.
How To Change the Default Browser for News and Search In Windows 11
In Windows 11, Search and the News widget will continue to use Edge as the default browser after changing the default browser for everything else. There isn’t a way to change this in the Default Apps menu. Instead, use the free app EdgeDeflector to change the default browser for Search and News.
How To Make Edge the Default Browser In Windows 10 or 11
If you don’t want Chrome or another browser as the default, Microsoft makes it easy to switch back to Edge as the default browser.
Nothing appears to happen other than the option changes to Microsoft Edge is your default browser and the Make default button is greyed out.
Will This All Change?
Changing browsers in Windows 10 is very much like it has always been, yet it’s completely different in Windows 11. Will it stay like this? Will other browsers include the same kind of set default browser mechanism that Firefox has?
As Windows 11 rolls out globally, don’t expect the process to change. However, Google and other browser providers are sure to include a default browser mechanism like Firefox. Whatever makes it easier to make their browser the default is in their best interests.
Guy has been published online and in print newspapers, nominated for writing awards, and cited in scholarly papers due to his ability to speak tech to anyone, but still prefers analog watches.Read Guy’s Full Bio
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