# How to set your default browser and make Google your search engine > How to choose the browser that opens when you tap a link (on Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android) and how to search with Google in Chrome, Edge and Safari, or with the search engine you prefer. Source: https://simplebuild.it/tutorial/browser-predefinito Author: SimpleBuild, Build simple. Deliver value. Category: Internet and Wi-Fi Procedure verified on: 2026-09-30 You choose the **default browser** in the system settings: on Windows 11 in **Settings** > **Apps** > **Default apps**, on a Mac in **System Settings** > **Desktop & Dock**, on iPhone in **Settings** > **Apps** > **Default Apps**, on Android in **Settings** > **Apps** > **Default apps**. The **search engine**, on the other hand, is changed inside the browser: in Chrome from **Settings** > **Search engine**. They are two different things: the **browser** is the program that opens websites; the **search engine** is the site that answers when you type something to look up in the bar at the top. ## Before you start - **Install the browser you want to use first**, if it is not there already, downloading it only from the official website or from your device's app store. - **Check which browser you are using**: the steps for the search engine are different in Chrome, Edge and Safari. - In some countries, the first time you start the system or the browser, you are asked to pick a browser and a search engine from a list: you can always change your mind later. ## On Windows 11 ### Choose the default browser 1. Select **Start** > **Settings** > **Apps** > **Default apps**. 2. In the search box of the apps section, type the name of the browser, for example *Chrome* or *Edge*. 3. Select the browser. 4. At the top, next to the line that offers to make it your default browser, select **Set default**. ![Diagram of Windows 11 Settings, Default apps, Google Chrome page: next to the line Make Google Chrome your default browser, the Set default button](https://simplebuild.it/assets/img/tutorial/browser-predefinito-windows-en.svg) 5. Check the list of file and link types below: they should be associated with the browser you chose. ### On Windows 10 1. Select **Start** > **Settings** > **Apps** > **Default apps**. 2. At the bottom, in the **Web browser** section, select the current browser. 3. In the **Choose an app** window, select the one you want. ## On a Mac 1. Choose **Apple** menu > **System Settings**, then click **Desktop & Dock** in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down). 2. Open the pop-up menu next to **Default web browser** and choose the browser. ![Diagram of Mac System Settings: Desktop & Dock in the sidebar, and on the right the pop-up menu next to Default web browser](https://simplebuild.it/assets/img/tutorial/browser-predefinito-mac-en.svg) If you use Chrome, you can also do it from Chrome itself: **More** menu (the three dots at the top right) > **Settings**, then in the **Default browser** section select **Make default**. If the button is not there, Chrome is already your default. ## On iPhone ### The default browser 1. Open the **Settings** app. 2. Tap **Apps**, then **Default Apps**. 3. Tap **Browser App** and choose the app you want to use. ![Diagram of iPhone Settings, Apps, Default Apps: the Browser App row, with the current browser on the right](https://simplebuild.it/assets/img/tutorial/browser-predefinito-iphone-en.svg) ### The Safari search engine 1. Open the **Settings** app. 2. Tap **Search**, then **Search Engine**. 3. Choose **Google** (or another engine). This choice applies to Safari and to Spotlight, the iPhone search. The names are those in the iPhone User Guide for the latest version of iOS; in older versions the items may be in different places. ## On Android The names can vary a little from one brand to another; these are the steps given by Google. ### The default browser 1. Open **Settings**. 2. Tap **Apps**. 3. Under **General**, tap **Default apps** (or **Choose default apps**). 4. Tap **Browser app** and select the one you want. ### The search engine - **In Chrome:** open Chrome, tap **More** (the three dots) > **Settings**, then **Search engine** and choose **Google**. - **In the search bar on the Home screen:** touch and hold an empty space on the Home screen, tap **Widgets**, choose the search engine app and drag the widget onto the screen. ## Set Google as the search engine in your browser ### Chrome on a computer 1. Open Chrome and select **More** (the three dots at the top right) > **Settings**. 2. Select **Search engine**. 3. Under **Search engine**, select **Change** and choose **Google**. ### Chrome on iPhone 1. Open Chrome and tap **More** > **Settings**. 2. Tap **Search engine** and choose **Google**. ### Microsoft Edge 1. Open Edge and select **Settings and more** (the three dots at the top right) > **Settings**. 2. Select **Privacy, search, and services**. 3. Select **Search and connected services**, then **Address bar and search**. 4. In the **Search engine used in the address bar** menu, choose **Google**. If the engine you want does not appear in the list, first run a search on that site from the address bar: from then on Edge shows it among the choices. ### Safari on a Mac 1. Open Safari. 2. Delete the text in the field at the top (the **Smart Search field**). 3. Click the icon to the left of the field and choose **Google** from the list. ## If it still doesn't work - **Does the search engine keep changing by itself?** Google warns that malware may be to blame. In Chrome you can reset the settings to their defaults; if the problem comes back, have the computer checked. In the meantime, stay alert to [scam emails and messages](https://simplebuild.it/tutorial/riconoscere-email-phishing). - **Is it a work or school PC?** The administrator may have locked the search engine: in that case you cannot change it yourself. - **Do some links still open in another browser?** Some apps use a browser other than the default one. - **Is the browser slow or full of ads?** See [how to speed up a Windows PC](https://simplebuild.it/tutorial/velocizzare-pc-windows) and, to clean up, [how to clear browser history and cache](https://simplebuild.it/tutorial/cancellare-cronologia-browser). - **When to call a technician:** if toolbars you never installed show up, start pages you cannot remove, or ads everywhere. These are typical signs of unwanted programs: better to have them removed before you type in passwords or banking details. ## Frequently asked questions ### What is the difference between a browser and a search engine? The browser is the program you use to open websites (Chrome, Edge, Safari, Firefox). The search engine is the site that looks up the words you type (Google, Bing and others). You can use Google inside Edge or Safari too. ### My search engine changed by itself: what does that mean? Google warns that an unexpected change of search engine can be caused by malware. Set the one you want again and, if it keeps changing, have the computer checked. ### Why do some links still open in another browser? Some apps open web pages with a browser other than your default one. It does not depend on your settings. ## Sources - [Change default apps in Windows (Microsoft Support)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-default-apps-in-windows-e5d82cad-17d1-c53b-3505-f10a32e1894d) - [Make Chrome your default browser (Google Chrome Help)](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95417?hl=en) - [Set default search engine and site search shortcuts (Google Chrome Help)](https://support.google.com/chrome/answer/95426?hl=en) - [Make Google your default search engine (Google Search Help)](https://support.google.com/websearch/answer/464?hl=en) - [Change your default search engine in Microsoft Edge (Microsoft Support)](https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/edge/change-your-default-search-engine-in-microsoft-edge) - [Make Safari your default web browser on Mac (Apple Support)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/guide/safari/ibrwa008/mac) - [Customize searching in Safari on Mac (Apple Support)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/guide/safari/ibrwe75c2a3c/mac) - [Change the default apps on iPhone (iPhone User Guide)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/guide/iphone/iphc57feab64/ios) - [Change your default search engine on iPhone (iPhone User Guide)](https://support.apple.com/en-us/guide/iphone/iphb719b43de/ios) - [Learn how to change your default browser (Android Help)](https://support.google.com/android/answer/14324187?hl=en) - [Learn how to change your search engine (Android Help)](https://support.google.com/android/answer/14661350?hl=en)