Those used to reading technology blogs certainly know how to change the default browser so that, by opening any web page or clicking on a link from a Word document or an email, the browser that we use daily is opened. If you are a beginner with the world of information technology, we could also be blown away by this simple operation.
So let's find out what we need to do to change the default browser on all PCs with Windows operating system.
We will show you the procedure to be performed on Windows 10, Windows 8.1 and Windows 7, the systems still supported by Microsoft, and finally how to change the default browser with the procedures offered by the various browsers.
READ ALSO: What is the best web browser "> Google Chrome
- Mozilla Firefox
- Opera
We choose which browsers to install on the PC and, if the warning on the first start of the browser for the change does not work, just follow the procedures described below.
1) Change default browser on Windows 10
To change the default browser in Windows 10 the procedure is quite simple, although at first glance it may seem difficult since it must be carried out in the Settings menu (there is no automatic assignment of the browser on the first start).
To change the default browser we open, type Settings in the Start menu, we open the menu then just open the App menu -> Default Apps ; scroll through the various items on the right of the window until you find Web Browser .
Click on the browser set as default (basic is Microsoft Edge) and select the browser that we intend to use every day from the list that will appear in the center of the screen.
When you have made your choice, Windows will from now on use the browser you have chosen; it may be necessary to repeat the procedure only in the case of complete updates of Windows 10 (the famous Updates), since it will tend to return to Microsoft Edge on many occasions (perhaps because Microsoft still pushes the use of its browser).
On Windows 10, the choice of browser must be made exclusively from this screen, since the control systems integrated in the various browsers can only signal how to reach this screen but can no longer independently change the default browser for security reasons.
2) Change default browser on Windows 8.1
If we still use the Windows 8.1 operating system, the procedure for changing the default browser is as follows: we open the Start screen and type Default programs, we will also see what we are looking for among the many programs, that is Default app settings .
A new settings menu screen will open where you can immediately change the default browser by clicking on the browser indicated under the Web Browser item.
A list will open where all we have to do is choose the browser that we intend to use for all the links and as default in the system.
On Windows 8.1 the modification of the default browser can also be carried out by the individual browsers at the first opening or as indicated in the final part of this guide.
3) Change default browser on Windows 7
The oldest of the Windows operating systems, namely Windows 7, offers a Control Panel option to be able to change the default browser.
To find this item quickly, all we have to do is open the Start menu and type Default programs .
In the menu that opens, click on Set default programs and, in the list of programs that we will see appear, click on the browser that we intend to use instead of Internet Explorer, then click on the item Set this program as default .
At the end of the configuration, click on the bottom right on OK.
On Windows 7 it is valid when already said for Windows 8.1: this step is superfluous for many users because when we first open a new browser we will be asked whether to set it as default or periodic checks will be carried out every time the browser is opened, being able to automatically apply the change to the system by selecting the setting when requested; alternatively we can use (on any version of Windows) the procedures described below.
4) Change default browser from programs
Generally, every time you open a browser other than the default one, a message appears to set it as the default; if this does not appear, depending on the case, the manual procedures for changing the preferred browser are as follows (on Windows 10 they open the same screen already seen in the first part of the guide):
- If you want to use Google Chrome just open it, click on the three dots at the top right, enter the settings and press the Set Google Chrome as default browser button .
- If you want to use Firefox let's open it, click on the three lines on the top right, select Options and in the first General tab click on Set as default browser.
- If we want to use Internet Explorer instead of Edge or the other browsers present in the system, simply open it, click on the gear symbol at the top right, open the Internet Options item, go to the Programs tab and finally click on Set programs present under the heading Internet programs .
- Finally, if you want to use the Opera browser, press the Opera button on the top left, go to Settings and on the Basic screen click Set Opera as the default browser.
READ ALSO: Set the default programs in Windows
