Microsoft Edge is indeed a powerful browser, especially when customized correctly. However, if you’re using a Windows 11 device, you don’t have to rely solely on it. While Microsoft pushes Edge as the default choice, there are many other excellent browsers available.
Changing the default browser in Windows 11 isn’t as straightforward as one might hope. Many assume it’s as simple as clicking a “Set as default” option that appears when installing a new browser, but it’s often more complex. Rather than setting a universal default browser for all links, Windows requires assigning a default for each link and file type individually.
How to Change Your Default Browser
For instance, if you’ve downloaded Google Chrome and are ready to switch, you may see an option in Chrome to set it as your default browser. Clicking this option will bring you to the Windows settings page rather than changing all the settings automatically.
- Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. If you don’t see the default browser option, you can navigate directly to this page.
- In the "Default apps" section, locate and select your preferred browser. You’ll see file types like HTML, PDF, and WEBP, which correspond to the different links and file types that can be linked to your default browser.
- If your browser offers a "Set as default" button, typically located at the top right of this settings page, you can select it, and it will set itself as the default for the main link and file types.
Some browsers, such as Firefox, automatically adjust these settings when you click “Set as Default Browser” upon launch. Others, like Chrome, require manual navigation to the settings page to make the change.
