Quick answer
The default browser is changed in Settings > Apps > Default apps (Windows 11) or Settings > Apps > Default apps > Web browser (Windows 10). In Windows 11, confirm the change for all file types and protocols, and in Windows 10 select the browser in the Web browser section. If your choice is not remembered, check that the browser is installed correctly and that security software is not blocking it.
How to recognize the problem
- Links from email and other apps open in the wrong browser
- Windows keeps reverting to Edge as the default browser
- There is no "Set as default" option in the browser itself
- PDF and HTML files open in an unexpected program
- After a Windows update, the choice changed by itself
Most common causes
Windows 11 has a more complex setting
In Windows 11, the default browser is often changed through a list of file types and protocols, although newer versions also offer a `Set default` button. That is why the button in the browser sometimes does not work as expected.
The browser is not installed correctly
If the installation was interrupted or the browser was installed for only one account, it will not appear in the list of default apps.
Security software is blocking the change
Some antivirus programs and "default apps protection" tools prevent the change in order to preserve the existing setting.
A Windows update restored the old setting
After a major update or an app reset, Windows may set Edge as the default browser again.
Step-by-step fix
- 1
Open the default apps settings
Click
Startand thenSettings(the gear icon). Go toApps>Default apps. In Windows 10 the path is the same, and in Windows 11 you will also see a search box at the top of the screen where you can type the browser name. - 2
Select the browser in Windows 11
In Windows 11, find Chrome, Firefox, Edge or another browser you use in the list. Click it to open the page with all the file types and protocols that browser can open.
- 3
Set it as default in Windows 11
At the top of the page, click the
Set defaultbutton. If the button is not there, go through the list manually: for each file type (for example.html,.htm) and protocol (HTTP,HTTPS), click the current program and select the browser you want. - 4
Set it as default in Windows 10
In the
Default appssection, scroll down to theWeb browserpart. Click the current browser and select the one you want from the drop-down menu. Windows 10 usually applies the choice to all relevant file types automatically. - 5
Check in the browser itself
Open the browser and look for the default browser option in its settings. In Chrome it is
Settings>Default browser, and in Firefox it isSettings>General>Default browser. If the browser reports that it is not the default, click the button that takes you back to Windows settings. - 6
Test the change
Open any link from an email or document and check that it opens in the browser you chose. You can also open an
.htmlfile fromFile Explorerby double-clicking it. If the wrong program opens, go back to the list of file types and correct just that type. - 7
If your choice is not remembered, check your security software
Temporarily turn off the default apps protection option in your antivirus program or optimization tools, if such an option exists. Then repeat the steps and turn that option back on. Do not turn off the entire antivirus protection, only the feature that preserves settings.
If nothing helps: advanced check
If the change is still not remembered, check that the browser is installed for your user account. Open Settings > Apps and look for the browser in the list of installed apps. If it is not there, download it again from the official website and install it. Then check whether the Windows account is standard or administrator; changing default apps usually works for a standard account too, but some group policies on work computers can block it. In that case, contact your administrator. Finally, restart the computer and repeat the steps; sometimes signing out and back in is also needed for Windows to apply the choice.
How to prevent it
- After a major Windows update, check that the browser is still the default.
- Install browsers only from official websites and keep them updated.
- Do not use "optimization" tools that lock default apps.
- On a work computer, ask your administrator about the rules in advance.
When to call a professional
If the change does not work even after checking security software and reinstalling, or if the computer belongs to a business network with locked settings, contact IT support to check group policies and system status.
IT infrastructure maintenance · Servers, networks, backup, security and helpdeskFAQ
Why can't I set Chrome as the default browser in Windows 11?
Newer versions of Windows 11 offer a `Set default` button, but it sometimes does not cover all file types and protocols, so they need to be changed individually. If that still does not work, check whether antivirus or group policy is blocking the change.
Does changing the default browser affect saved passwords?
No. Passwords remain in the browser where they were saved. If you switch to another browser, you need to transfer them or save them again.
How do I set Edge back as the default browser?
The same procedure: in `Settings` > `Apps` > `Default apps`, select Microsoft Edge and set it as default. In Windows 10, that is enough in the `Web browser` section.