Setting Edge as your default browser on Windows

On Windows 10 and 11, you can make Edge your default browser through Settings. Open Settings, go to Apps, then select Default apps. Scroll down until you see Web browser, click it, and choose Microsoft Edge from the list that appears. Windows will then route all web links to Edge instead of whatever browser you were using before.

If you have other browsers installed, they may periodically ask whether you want to switch to them. Changing your default back to Edge is the same process — go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, find Web browser, and select Edge again.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Apps, then Default apps, find Web browser, and select Microsoft Edge.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, go to General, then Default web browser, and choose Edge from the dropdown.
  • On iPhone or iPad, open Settings, scroll to Microsoft Edge, tap it, and select Default Browser App.
  • On Android, open Settings, go to Apps, find Microsoft Edge, select it, then choose Set as default and pick Open links.

Setting Edge as your default browser on Mac

On macOS, the process is similar but the menu names differ. Open System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then look for Default web browser near the bottom of the window. Click the dropdown menu and select Microsoft Edge.

If you do not see this option, make sure Edge is installed. You can download it from Microsoft's website if needed. Once installed, it will appear in that dropdown menu.

Setting Edge as your default browser on iPhone and iPad

On iOS and iPadOS, open the Settings app and scroll down the main list until you find Microsoft Edge. Tap it, then look for an option labeled Default Browser App and select it. Choose Edge from the menu that appears.

This setting tells iOS to open web links from emails, messages, and other apps in Edge instead of Safari. You can change it back to Safari or another browser at any time using the same steps.

Setting Edge as your default browser on Android

On Android phones and tablets, open Settings and navigate to Apps. Find Microsoft Edge in the list and tap it. Select Set as default, then choose Open links from the options shown. Confirm that you want Edge to handle web links.

Some Android devices organize this menu differently depending on the manufacturer. If you cannot find these exact options, try searching "default apps" in your Settings search bar instead.

What happens when you change your default browser

When Edge becomes your default browser, any link you click in an email, text message, document, or another app will open in Edge. Search results from Google, Bing, or other search engines will also load in Edge. Your bookmarks, history, and saved passwords stay in whatever browser you were using before — changing the default does not move that data.

You can still use other browsers whenever you want. Setting a default browser only changes what happens automatically when you click a link. If you open Chrome, Firefox, or Safari directly, they work normally.

Undoing the change if you want a different default

You can switch back to a different default browser at any time using the same steps. On Windows, go back to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Web browser and pick a different option. On Mac, open System Settings > General > Default web browser and choose something else. The process is identical on phones — just open Settings, find the browser you want, and set it as default.

Some browsers ask permission to become your default when you first open them. If you see that prompt and click yes, it will change your default immediately without needing to dig through settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default browser delete my bookmarks or history?

No. Your bookmarks, history, passwords, and other data stay in the browser where you saved them. Changing your default browser only changes which browser opens automatically when you click a link. You can still access your old browser and all its data whenever you want.

Can I set different default browsers for different types of links?

On most devices, you can only set one default browser for all web links. Some Android phones let you choose which app opens a link each time you click one, but this requires extra steps each time. Windows, Mac, iPhone, and iPad do not offer per-link-type defaults.

Why does my default browser keep changing back?

Other browsers sometimes change your default when you update them or open them for the first time. Windows 11 also shows notifications asking if you want to switch browsers. If this keeps happening, check whether you have recently updated another browser or clicked a prompt asking about your default.

Does Edge work the same way as my old default browser?

Edge handles web pages the same way most modern browsers do. Some websites may look slightly different or have minor layout changes, but the core experience is similar. If a website does not work in Edge, you can still open it in your old browser by copying the address and pasting it there.

Can I use Edge as my default but keep using another browser sometimes?

Yes. Setting Edge as your default only changes what happens when you click a link automatically. You can still open any other browser whenever you want and use it normally. The default setting does not prevent you from using other browsers.