On Mac, the default browser is Safari, which means that to browse the internet, you will need to use the Apple browser. Furthermore, every time you click on a specific link or open an HTML or similar file on your Mac, Safari will automatically start.
Safari is a great browser, but if for any reason you’re not happy with it, you need to know that you can easily change the default browser on Mac at any time. For example, you can choose to install Chrome, or if you prefer, you can opt for Opera or Mozilla Firefox. The choice is really wide. You just have to find the software that best suits your needs.
You can change the default browser on Mac in two ways: via System Preferences or directly from the browser you intend to use. Both procedures are straightforward but don’t worry if you don’t know how to do it. I will explain the whole procedure in detail in the next paragraphs of this article.
How to change the default browser on Mac
As previously written, after choosing and installing the browser you want to set as default on your Mac, you can choose to perform two different procedures. Let’s see in detail:
Set default browser via System Preferences
The easiest and fastest way to change the default browser on Mac is through System Preferences. Here’s how:
- Click on the Apple icon (the one in the shape of an apple, present at the top left of the menu bar);
- Select the item “System Preferences” ;
- Click on the “General” icon ;
- Click on the drop-down menu next to ” Default web browser” and select the browser you prefer;
- Exit the “System Preferences.”
The procedure is completed, and the default web browser has been changed. Easy right?
Change Default Browser via Another Browser
As I said at the beginning, you can choose to set the default browser of the Mac through the settings of another browser. Even in this case, the procedure is very simple. Here is what you need to do:
Google Chrome:
- Start Google Chrome;
- Click on “Chrome” at the top of the menu bar;
- Select the item “Preferences” ;
- Make sure that “You and Google” is selected in the menu on the left ;
- Scroll down the page and locate the item “Default Browser,” then click on the “Set as Default Browser” button ;
- When prompted, click on the “Use Chrome” button.
Mozilla Firefox
- Start Firefox;
- Click on “Firefox” at the top of the menu bar;
- Select the item “Preferences” ;
- From the menu on the left, select the item “General” ;
- Click on the “Set as default browser” button ;
- When prompted, click on the “Use Firefox” button.
Opera
- Start Opera;
- Click on “Opera” at the top of the menu bar;
- Click on “Preferences” ;
- Scroll down the page and locate the “Default Browser” section, then click on the “Make Default” button ;
- When prompted, click on the “Use Opera” button.
