How to Change the Default Browser in Windows 11 (2026)
Windows 11 makes changing your default browser more annoying than it should be. Instead of one simple switch, Microsoft asks you to set the default for each file type and link type separately. Here’s how to do it properly — and a faster shortcut that works on current versions.
The Fast Way (Windows 11 22H2 and Later)
Recent updates added a one-click “Set default” button, which makes this much easier:
- Open Settings (Win + I).
- Go to Apps → Default apps.
- Search for your browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave…) and click it.
- At the top, click the Set default button.
That single button assigns the main link and file types (HTTP, HTTPS, HTML, .htm) in one go. For most people, that’s all you need.
The Thorough Way (Set Every File Type)
If you want your browser to handle everything — including PDFs, FTP links, and image formats it can open — set each type manually on the same screen:
- In Default apps, open your browser’s page.
- Scroll through the list of file and link types (.html, .htm, HTTP, HTTPS, .pdf, .svg, FTP…).
- Click each one and pick your browser from the list.
It’s tedious, but it guarantees no link ever sneaks back to Edge.
Why Windows Keeps Pushing Edge
Some links — especially those opened from Windows system components like the Widgets panel or search — are hardcoded to open in Edge regardless of your default. To force these through your chosen browser, a free tool called MSEdgeRedirect intercepts them and reroutes them. It’s open source and widely trusted.
Make Sure It Sticks
After changing the default, test it: click a link in an email or document. If it opens in the right browser, you’re set. If Windows resets your choice after an update (it sometimes does), just repeat the “Set default” step — it takes seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why won’t Windows 11 let me change my default browser easily?
Microsoft splits the default across many file and link types. Newer versions added a single “Set default” button that handles the important ones at once, which solves it for most users.
Do I have to set every file type individually?
No. On Windows 11 22H2 and later, the “Set default” button covers the main web types. Setting each type manually is only needed if you want your browser to handle every possible format.
How do I stop links from opening in Edge?
For normal links, setting your default browser is enough. For system links that ignore the default (like Widgets or search results), use the free MSEdgeRedirect tool.
Will Windows updates reset my default browser?
Occasionally a major update reverts it. If that happens, just reopen Settings → Apps → Default apps and click “Set default” again.
