How to change your default browser in Windows 11

For those who’ve up to date your PC from Home windows 10 to Home windows 11, you might have seen that whenever you click on on a hyperlink for a web site, a PDF doc, or a wide range of different file varieties, you’ll now be despatched to Microsoft’s Edge browser. In its new model of Home windows, Microsoft appears to have change into particularly aggressive in pushing its personal apps over the apps that had been put in as defaults earlier than the improve. In different phrases, Edge out of the blue turned your default browser.

Usually, the primary time you go into one other browser that isn’t Edge — say, Google Chrome — the not-Edge browser will ask in the event you’d wish to make it the default as a substitute. Nevertheless, the method for altering your defaults in Home windows 11 has change into extra sophisticated than it was in Home windows 10. So you might not get that useful request — or in the event you do, it could land you on a complicated-looking web page headed App > Default apps. Both means, right here’s how you can change.

Swap default browsers

For those who don’t need Edge to be your default browser, and your favourite browser isn’t providing to make the change for you — or if it did supply however as a substitute despatched you to the Default apps web page talked about above — right here’s how you can change the default. For this instance, I’m utilizing Google Chrome, however this could work with any browser that you’ve got put in in your system.

• Choose Settings > Apps > Default apps
• Beneath Set defaults for purposes, both scroll all the way down to the place your most well-liked browser is listed or sort the title within the Search apps area. Click on on the app.

• On the prime of the checklist, you’ll hopefully see a line that reads Make [browser name] your default browser and, on the proper of that, a button labeled Set default. Click on on the button.
• A number of browser-related file varieties will likely be listed beneath, underneath a subhead that reads Set default file varieties or hyperlink varieties. Whenever you click on on the Set default button, a few of them — however not essentially all — will change from Edge to your most well-liked browser.

• Search for the file varieties that have been assigned to Edge, comparable to .HTM, .HTML, HTTP, HTTPS, and maybe .PDF (except you could have one other PDF reader you like). Click on on any that didn’t change and that you just nonetheless wish to change.
• Bear in mind that there could also be some file varieties that received’t supply your browser instead.

Be aware: When it first shipped, Home windows 11 made it rather more tough to vary default browsers; relying on the browser you like, the method of switching could also be even simpler than this. For instance, even when this was written, the primary time I opened Firefox, it requested if I wished it to change into the default. I let it go forward, and once I went to the Default apps part of setup, I discovered that Firefox was now set because the default for .HTM, .HTML, .HTTP, and .HTTPS information.

That received’t clear up every part

However wait — there’s extra. Even after you turn your browser default to one thing aside from Edge, you’re nonetheless going to get Edge because the favored browser for a lot of Home windows apps. For instance, convey up Home windows 11’s new Widget pane (by clicking on the Widgets icon in your taskbar, the one that appears like a two-paned window), and click on on one of many information gadgets that seem there — and the hyperlink will open Edge.

For those who discover that irritating, there could also be an app for that. With a purpose to open Edge-specific hyperlinks, it’s essential to do the next:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
• Scroll all the way down to the underside till you see Select defaults by hyperlink sort.
• Click on on that, after which within the search field labeled Set defaults for hyperlink varieties, sort Edge.
• Beneath the label Microsoft-Edge, you’ll see (a bit redundantly) Microsoft Edge. Click on on that, and also you’ll see every other browsers that you should use to open these specialised hyperlinks.

Curiously, in the event you set up Chrome or Firefox, you received’t see them as decisions. However in the event you set up the Courageous browser, you will see it as an choice — and if you choose that, then everytime you click on on a information hyperlink within the Widget pane, it’s going to come up in Courageous.

One other risk is a instrument known as EdgeDeflector that was initially created to intercept any hyperlinks in Home windows 10 that have been Edge-specific and rewrite them on the fly in order that they are often opened by the default internet browser. I did a bit searching and skim that its newest model, v1.2.3.0, would work with Home windows 11.

I put in and adopted the instructions for setup. Sadly, whereas that labored for many hyperlinks, once I clicked on a hyperlink from the information sources within the Widgets pane, it didn’t fairly work — the hyperlink opened in Chrome, however not one of the graphics got here by means of. I’d control this app, although…

Replace April fifteenth, 10:23AM ET: This text was initially printed on October eighth, 2021, and has been since up to date to incorporate instructions for permitting the Courageous browser to open sure specialised Home windows hyperlinks, so as to add a notice about Microsoft blocking EdgeDeflector, and to replicate adjustments within the technique of switching browser defaults.