How to Change Default Browsers on Mac

Safari on Mac is a great browser, but if you’re not a fan of it and would rather use a different web browser, here’s how to change the default browser on Mac.

Even though third-party web browsers don’t perform well on Macs compared to Safari (especially Chrome), many users still prefer using Chrome, Firefox, or other third-party browser because of the added features and ease of use.

However, while you can use any browser you want, you’ll still need to change OS X’s default web browser in the settings, because if not, any link you open elsewhere on your Mac will automatically be opened in Safari, even if you’re using Chrome or Firefox.

The good news is that it’s really easy to change the default browser in OS X, and I’ll show you how to quickly do that, as well as why you’d might want to use a third-party browser in the first place.

How to Change Default Browsers

Changing default browsers on your Mac is super simple and just requires a small change in System Preferences. Follow these simple steps to change your default web browser on your Mac.

• Open up System Preferences.
• Click on General.
• Find where it says Default web browser and click on the box to the right of it. This will bring up a list of installed web browsers, as well as some other non-browser apps (for some odd reason).
• Choose the web browser that you want as your default browser.

After you choose a browser from the list, that’s all there is to it. You can close out of System Preferences and from there, any external links you click on will automatically be

Why You’d Want a Third-Party Browser

Most casual users probably just use OS X’s built-in web browser, which is Safari. It’s a good browser that’s basic and easy to use. Plus, it performs well on Macs. However, there are some cases where a third-party web browser might suit you better.

For instance, Google Chrome and Firefox both have extensive access to a huge selection of add-ons and extensions that allow you to do so much more with the browser. You can get ad blockers, YouTube video downloaders, and even an Evernote add-on to quickly save a website to your Evernote notes.

Furthermore, Chrome is made by Google, thus it integrates well with the company’s other services like Gmail and Google Drive if you use those often, but I like Chrome mostly because the layout and navigate is really simple.

Some users have reported having issues with Chrome on Mac, like taking up too much memory or simply just crashing a lot. It doesn’t happen to all Mac users, but there have been many complaints about it. If you try a new third-party browser, but are having issues with it, then it might be best to stick with Safari until those issues get fixed in an update.

However, if you don’t have issues with Chrome on Mac, all the more power to you, and you can enjoy using its features, as well as changing it to your default browser to make everything easier.