Where to change your default browser on iPhone
Open Settings, scroll down and tap Apps, then tap Default Apps. You will see Browser App listed there. Tap it, and you will see all the browsers installed on your phone. Select the one you want to use as your default — Safari, Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or another browser you have downloaded. That browser will now open whenever a link is tapped from email, messages, search results, or other apps.
This setting was added in iOS 14, so if you are running an older version of iOS, you cannot change your default browser. You can check your iOS version in Settings > General > About, and update to the latest version in Settings > General > Software Update.
Key Takeaways
- Your default browser is set in Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App, and the change takes effect immediately across all apps on your phone.
- You can only set a default browser if you have iOS 14 or later installed, and the browser you choose must be downloaded from the App Store first.
- Changing your default browser does not delete Safari or prevent you from opening other browsers manually — it only changes which one opens by default when you tap a link.
- Some apps may ignore your default browser setting and open links in their own built-in browser instead, depending on how the app was designed.
Which browsers you can set as default
Any browser available on the App Store can be set as your default, including Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Opera, Brave, and DuckDuckGo. You must download the browser from the App Store first — it will not appear in the Default Apps menu until it is installed on your phone. Safari is always available as an option since it comes built in.
The browser you choose does not have to be the one you use most often. Some people set Chrome as default because they sync bookmarks across devices, but still open Safari for banking or other sensitive tasks. The default setting only controls what opens when you tap a link — you can always manually open a different browser whenever you want.
What changes when you set a new default
When you set a new default browser, links tapped from Mail, Messages, Notes, search results, and most other apps will open in that browser instead of Safari. Bookmarks, history, and saved passwords stay separate for each browser — switching your default does not move your data from one browser to another.
Some apps have their own built-in web viewers and may not respect your default browser setting. For example, some social media apps or news apps open links in their own internal browser rather than sending you to your default. This is a limitation of how those apps were built, not a problem with your default setting.
Switching back to Safari as your default
If you want to return to Safari as your default browser, go back to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App and tap Safari. The change takes effect immediately. You can switch between browsers as often as you want — there is no limit to how many times you can change your default.
Safari will remain on your phone even if you set a different default. Changing your default browser does not uninstall Safari or any other browser. All your browsers stay installed and available to open manually.
Why your default browser might not be opening
If you set a default browser but links are still opening in Safari, check that the browser you chose is still installed on your phone. If you deleted it, iOS automatically reverts to Safari as the default. Reinstall the browser from the App Store, and your default setting will take effect again.
If the browser is installed but links are still not opening in it, restart your phone. Sometimes the setting does not take effect until you power off and back on. Hold the power button until the slider appears, swipe to power off, wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.
Default browsers and iCloud sync
Your default browser setting is stored on your phone and does not sync across your other Apple devices. If you have an iPad or Mac, you will need to set the default browser separately on each device. This means you might have Chrome as default on your iPhone but Safari as default on your iPad.
If you sign into the same browser account on multiple devices — for example, your Google account in Chrome — your bookmarks and history will sync, but your default browser choice will not. Each device remembers its own default independently.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does setting a default browser delete Safari?
No. Safari stays on your phone and remains available to open manually. Changing your default browser only changes which one opens when you tap a link — it does not remove or disable Safari.
Can I set different default browsers for different apps?
No. You can only set one default browser for your entire phone. All links from all apps will open in that browser unless the app has its own built-in browser that overrides your setting.
What if I want to open a link in a different browser than my default?
You can manually open any browser on your phone and paste the link into it, or long-press the link and select "Open in [Browser Name]" if that option appears. Your default setting only controls what happens when you tap a link normally.
Will my bookmarks move to my new default browser?
No. Each browser keeps its own separate bookmarks, history, and saved passwords. If you switch from Safari to Chrome as your default, your Safari bookmarks stay in Safari. You would need to export them manually if you want them in Chrome.
Does my default browser setting work on older iPhones?
Only if they are running iOS 14 or later. If your iPhone is running iOS 13 or earlier, the Default Apps menu does not exist, and you cannot change your default browser. You can check your iOS version in Settings > General > About.