How to Set Your Default Browser (and Stop Edge Taking Over)

Every time you click a link in an email or document, your computer uses the default browser to open it. Windows 11 ships with Edge set as the default, and it aggressively tries to stay that way. Here's how to change it and keep it changed.

Set your default browser on Windows 11

1. Open Settings (press Windows + I).
2. Go to Apps > Default apps.
3. Scroll down and click on the browser you want to use (e.g., Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox).
4. At the top, click Set default. This sets it as the default for all file types and links at once.

On older Windows 10, the process is slightly different: go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll to Web browser, and click to change it.

Set your default browser on Mac

1. Open System Settings (Apple menu > System Settings).
2. Click Desktop & Dock, then scroll down to find Default web browser.
3. Click the drop-down and choose your preferred browser.

Why does Edge keep taking over?

Microsoft Edge restores itself as the default browser after certain Windows updates. This is a known behaviour. After a major Windows update, check your default apps setting again. Some users also find that clicking a link in a Microsoft 365 app (Outlook, Teams) opens it in Edge regardless — this is controlled separately within those apps.

Fix Outlook opening links in Edge

In the new Outlook app: go to Settings > General > Files and links and set the browser to your preference. In the classic Outlook: the default app setting in Windows controls it — make sure that's set correctly first.

Make it stick

After a browser prompts you to "make it your default," always accept. The browser registers itself more thoroughly through its own prompt than through Windows Settings alone.

If Edge keeps overriding your choice after every update, let us know — there are registry-level steps that can help.