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How to change the default browser in Windows 10
Microsoft introduced a new integrated browser with the launch of Windows 10: Microsoft Edge. It’s billed to be lightweight and fast, but many PC owners may not like having an integrated browser forced in their faces. Choice is the key to happiness. We show you how to change the default browser in Windows 10.
Typically, when you install a new browser, it immediately requests you to set it as the default. That’s not ideal in the initial trial-and-error mode where you want to test-drive a browser before making a lifelong commitment. Our guide shows you how to manually set the default browser through the Settings and from within five popular web browsers.
This guide is based on Windows 10 version 1809 (October 2018 Update).
From the Settings app
1. Click Start and select the “gear” icon on the Start Menu. This opens the Settings app.
2. Select Apps.
3. Select Default apps.
4. Scroll down to Web browser.
5. Click the current default browser.
6. Select a new browser in the pop-up window.
From Microsoft Edge (1809)
1. Click the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
2. Select Settings in the rollout menu.
3. Click the Change my default button under Default browser on the General panel.
4. Scroll down to Web browser in the Settings app.
5. Click the current default browser.
6. Select a new browser in the pop-up window.
From Google Chrome (74.0.3729.157)
1. Click the three-dot icon in the top right corner.
2. Choose Settings in the drop-down menu.
Note: You can also enter chrome://settings in the address field.
3. Scroll down to Default browser.
4. Click the Make default button.
5. Scroll down to Web browser in the Settings app.
6. Click the current default browser.
7. Select a new browser in the pop-up window.
From Mozilla Firefox (66.0.5)
1. Click the triple-line icon in the top right corner.
2. Select Options in the drop-down menu.
Note: you can enter about:preferences in the address field as well.
3. Click the Make default button on the General page.
4. Scroll down to Web browser in the Settings app.
5. Click the current default browser.
6. Select a new browser in the pop-up window.
From Vivaldi (2.5.1525.43)
1. Click the Vivaldi logo in the top left corner.
2. Choose Tools in the drop-down menu.
3. Select Settings in the rollout menu.
4. Click the Set as Default button in the popup Vivaldi Settings General window.
5. Scroll down to Web browser in the Settings app.
6. Click the current default browser.
7. Select a new browser in the pop-up window.
From Opera (60.0.3255.95)
1. Click the Opera logo in the top left corner.
2. Choose Settings in the drop-down menu.
3. Scroll down to Default browser.
4. Click the Make default button.
5. Scroll down to Web browser in the Settings app.
6. Click the current default browser.
7. Select a new browser in the pop-up window.
That’s our guide on how to change the default browser in Windows 10. For more tips and tricks, check out these guides: