mac os make safari default browser

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How to Change Your Default Browser on Mac

In macOS, Apple's Safari is the default browser for accessing the web, but you don't have to keep it that way. This article shows you how to change your default web browser to an alternative option. Keep reading to learn how.

While Chrome is the most popular choice among Mac users, Microsoft Edge is catching up. In fact, Edge is on the verge of overtaking Safari as the world's second most popular desktop browser , thanks to its fast performance and strong feature set.

While all browsers have something different to offer, the choice between them really comes down to personal preference. The main contenders are all free to download, so the best thing to do is install them, try them out, and keep the one you like best. Then you can make it your default browser to replace Safari.

The following sets of steps show you how to do just that. The first set of steps assume you are running macOS Ventura or later, while the second set of steps are for earlier versions of macOS that still feature the System Preferences panel. Bear in mind that both sets of steps assume you have already downloaded and installed the browser you want to use.

Change Default Browser on macOS Monterey and Earlier

• Launch System Preferences from your Mac's Dock, from the Applications folder, or from the Apple menu bar (  -> System Preferences... ).

Change Default Browser on macOS Ventura and Later

• Launch System Settings from your Mac's Dock, from the Applications folder, or from the Apple menu bar (  -> System Settings... ).
• Select Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.

That's all there is to it, you have now successfully changed your default web browser from Safari to your preferred app. Want to do the same thing on your iPhone or iPad ? Check out our dedicated article to learn how .

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How to change your default browser on a Mac computer

• You can change the default browser on Mac in System Preferences or your browser's settings page. 
• Macs set Safari as the default browser, but you can change it to any other browser, like Chrome. 
• When you change your default browser, any links you click will open in your preferred browser. 

Mac computers come with Apple's Safari web browser pre-set as the default browser. This means that Safari will open automatically when you click certain links, even if you don't want it to. 

While Safari is a fast web browser and works well for most web needs, there are drawbacks to using it. One of these drawbacks is that for some websites, other browsers can be faster — for example, Google Apps work better in Google's own browser, Chrome . Other websites might not work with Safari at all. 

You can change your Mac's default web browser through System Preferences or through the browser itself — here's how to do both. 

How to change the default browser on Mac from System Preferences 

1. Open System Preferences by clicking the Apple icon in the top-left corner of your screen and selecting System Preferences in the drop-down.

2. In System Preferences, click General in the top-left corner.

3. On the General page, click the drop-down next to Default Web Browser.

4. All web browsers downloaded on your computer will appear in the drop-down list. Choose one to set it as your default. Now, whenever you click on a link to open it, it will automatically appear in your chosen browser. 

How to change your default browser on Mac from the browser's settings 

There are dozens of different web browsers you could be using, and the exact method for setting them as your default browser is slightly different for each. Here, we'll use Google Chrome as an example.

1. Open Chrome.

2. In the toolbar at the very top of your screen, click Chrome and select Preferences in the drop-down. 

3. Scroll down to the Default browser section and click Make default .

4. A window will pop up asking if you want to Keep [browser] as your default or Use Chrome . Choose Use Chrome .

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How to Change the Default Browser in macOS

Make your favorite browser your computer's first pick

What to Know

• Go to the Apple menu and choose System Preferences > General . Choose a new browser from the Default Web Browser drop-down.
• The list displays only the browsers installed on your Mac. If your choice isn't on the list, go to the browser website and download it.

Apple Safari is the macOS default browser. With alternatives like Chrome , Edge , and Firefox available on the platform, along with Opera , Vivaldi , and other browsers , it's common to have several browsers installed on the same computer. Here's how to change the default browser in macOS (or OS X) Yosemite (10.10) through Catalina (10.15).

How to Change the Mac's Default Browser

To change the default browser on your Mac, change some settings in System Preferences. Here's what to do.

Under the Apple menu, select System Preferences .

Select General .

Select the Default Web Browser drop-down menu and choose a new browser.

The browser list displays only the browsers installed on your Mac. If your choice isn't on this list, go to the browser's website and download it to your Mac.

Close System Preferences to save your changes.

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How to Change the Default Browser on Your Mac

Don’t like Safari? Follow these steps to choose a different default browser on your Mac.

If you use a third-party browser such as Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox on the Mac, it’s a good idea to go all the way and make it the default. That way, any links that you select in Mail and other apps will open in your browser of choice and not in Safari.

Let’s figure out what you can do to change the default browser for the Mac.

Change the Default Browser via System Preferences

The easiest way to change the default browser on the Mac is to use the System Preferences app in macOS . You don’t even have to open your browser for that:

• Open the Apple menu and select System Preferences .
• Select the General category.
• Open the dropdown menu next to Default web browser and pick your preferred browser—for example, Google Chrome .

If you want to revert to having Safari as the default browser on the Mac, simply repeat the steps above and set the Default web browser to Safari .

Change the Default Browser via In-Browser Settings

You can also change the default browser on your Mac in-browser. Here’s how to do that using the two most popular third-party browsers for Mac : Chrome and Firefox.

Set Google Chrome as the Default Browser

Follow these steps inside Google Chrome to make it your default browser:

• Open the Chrome menu and select Settings .
• Choose Default browser on the sidebar.
• Select Make Default > Use Chrome .

Set Mozilla Firefox as the Default Browser

Follow these steps inside Mozilla Firefox to make it your default browser:

• Open the Firefox menu and select Settings .
• Make sure that you’re on the General tab.
• Select Make Default > Use Firefox .

Set Your New Default Everywhere

The Mac aside, you might also want to change the default browser on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad. That ensures you use the same browser across all of your devices. Learn what it takes to do that.

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How to Change the Default Web Browser on a Mac

Last Updated: October 26, 2023 Tested

This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Jack Lloyd . Jack Lloyd is a Technology Writer and Editor for wikiHow. He has over two years of experience writing and editing technology-related articles. He is technology enthusiast and an English teacher. The wikiHow Tech Team also followed the article's instructions and verified that they work. This article has been viewed 544,095 times. Learn more...

This wikiHow teaches you how to make a web browser other than Safari your default web browser on a Mac computer. Common third-party browsers include Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, and Microsoft Edge, but you can set any browser that's installed on your Mac as the default browser.

Install your preferred web browser.

• Google Chrome – Download from https://www.google.com/chrome/downloads .
• Microsoft Edge – Download from https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/edge
• Firefox – Download from https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox .
• Opera – Download from https://www.opera.com .
• Vivaldi – Download from https://vivaldi.com/download .
• Brave – Download from https://brave.com/download .

Open your Mac's System Preferences.

Click the "General" icon.

Select a browser from the "Default web browser" menu.

• If you don't see the browser that you want to use, restart your Mac and then re-open the System Preferences window to try again.

Community Q&A

• Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Opera are all good choices for an alternative browser. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

• Some web browsers (e.g., Internet Explorer) don't work on a Mac. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0

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• ↑ https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201607

About This Article

1. Download and install your preferred browser. 2. Click the Apple menu icon. 3. Click System Preferences... 4. Click General 5. Click the "Default Web Browser" drop-down box. 6. Click your preferred browser. Did this summary help you? Yes No

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Safari User Guide

• Change your home page
• Import bookmarks, history and passwords
• Make Safari your default web browser
• Go to websites
• Find what you’re looking for
• Bookmark web pages that you want to revisit
• See your favourite websites
• Use tabs for web pages
• Pin frequently visited websites
• Play web videos
• Mute audio in tabs
• Pay with Apple Pay
• Autofill credit card info
• Autofill contact info
• Keep a Reading List
• Hide ads when reading articles
• Translate a web page
• Download items from the web
• Share or post web pages
• Add passes to Wallet
• Save part or all of a web page
• Print or create a PDF of a web page
• Customise a start page
• Customise the Safari window
• Customise settings per website
• Zoom in on web pages
• Get extensions
• Manage cookies and website data
• Block pop-ups
• Clear your browsing history
• Browse privately
• Autofill username and password info
• Prevent cross-site tracking
• View a Privacy Report
• Change Safari preferences
• Keyboard and other shortcuts
• Troubleshooting

Make Safari your default web browser on Mac

When you click links in emails and other documents, they open in your default browser. Safari is the default browser when you first set up your Mac, but another browser you install can become the default unexpectedly.

Open General preferences for me

Click the “Default web browser” pop-up menu and choose Safari.

Some apps open web pages in a browser other than your default browser.

How To Change The Default Browser On A Mac: Chrome, Safari, Firefox & More!

Michael Grothaus

You don’t have to use Safari on a Mac. Here’s how to set your preferred browser.

Wondering how to change the default browser on a Mac? Just as you can change the default browser on iOS , macOS lets you set a default browser too. In this article, we’ll walk you through the best and fastest way to change the default browser on your Mac.

It should be noted that these instructions are for Macs running macOS Monterey , though the instructions will be similar, if not identical, for older Mac operating systems. And keep in mind that because these instructions are operating system-based, it doesn’t matter if you have an iMac , MacBook , or Mac Studio – the instructions are the same.

What Is The Mac’s Default Browser? Safari.

Unsurprisingly, the default browser on the Mac is Safari. I say unsurprisingly because Apple makes the Safari web browser.

So is Safari for Mac worth it? I think so. That’s because Safari is generally the most secure and private browser on the Mac. Apple has an insane level of privacy protections built into Safari, such as blocking third-party cookies by default, and the ability to hide your IP address from trackers as well as the ability to prevent cross-site tracking.

• TIP: How To Use Safari To Generate 2FA Codes On iPhone

But Safari is also a great browser because it has a wide variety of popular extensions available for it ( though not as many as Chrome , as well as its highly integrated into the entire Apple ecosystem. If you use Safari your bookmarks, history, and website passwords will sync across all devices that are signed in to your iCloud account.

Safari also works very well with Apple Pay on the web and has a fairly high degree of customizability.

What Other Browsers Are Popular On The Mac?

Unsurprisingly, there are plenty of third-party browsers for the Mac. The most popular non-Apple browser is Chrome. Then there is Microsoft’s Edge, and other browsers like Firefox and Brave .

If you are a heavy Google user, you’ll probably want to use Chrome. But if you are into privacy but don’t like Safari, Firefox is probably your best bet. A good in-between is Brave, which is based on the Chromium engine, which powers the Chrome browser.

At the end of the day, the best browser is the one that works best with your workflow.

What Does A Default Browser Do?

A default browser is simply the browser that automatically opens when you click on a link, for example, in an email message or text message.

How To Change The Default Browser On A Mac

If you want to change your default browser on the Mac, there are several ways to do it. Most browsers have some kind of “Set Default” button in their preferences. Clocking this button will let you set that browser as the default browser on macOS.

However, that’s not the easiest way to set your default browser on your Mac. The easiest way to set your default browser on your Mac is the way built into the Mac operating system.

There’s a one-stop setting that lets you select from a list of all the browsers installed on your Mac. Because you have the list right there in the setting, you can see everything in one place and choose the best browser for you. Here’s how to access the setting:

• Open the System Preferences app on your Mac.
• Tap the General preference pane.
• You’ll see a setting called “Default web browser.” Next to it is a dropdown menu. The browser listed next to the setting is your current default one. But click the dropdown menu to see a list of ALL the installed browsers on your Mac. Select the one you want to use as the default browser and click it.

And that’s it! You’ve not selected a new default browser on your Mac!

Also, check out How To Customize Your Mac’s UI In 4 EASY Ways! And be sure to check out How To Hide System Preferences Panes On Your Mac! And have a look at How To Manage Share Menu Options On Your Mac!

And be sure to check out How To Restore Deleted iPhone Safari Bookmarks! And What Is The Most Popular Web Browser In 2022?

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How To Set Google As Default Browser On Mac Safari

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• Browsers & Extensions

Introduction

Setting Google as the default browser on Mac Safari can significantly enhance your browsing experience, ensuring that your searches are seamlessly integrated with the powerful capabilities of Google's search engine. By making this simple adjustment, you can streamline your online activities and access Google's vast array of features directly from the Safari browser.

In this guide, we will walk you through the straightforward process of configuring Safari to utilize Google as your default search engine and homepage. By following these steps, you can harness the full potential of Google's search functionality without the need to navigate to the Google website separately.

Whether you're a casual user or a professional seeking to optimize your workflow, customizing your browser settings to prioritize Google can save you time and effort. With Google as your default search engine, you can swiftly access a wealth of information, from general queries to specific topics, with just a few keystrokes.

Moreover, by setting Google as your homepage, you can instantly immerse yourself in the familiar and intuitive interface of Google's search portal whenever you launch Safari. This seamless integration can streamline your browsing experience and provide quick access to Google's suite of services, including Gmail, Google Maps, and Google Drive.

By the end of this guide, you will have successfully configured Safari to prioritize Google, empowering you to harness the full potential of this renowned search engine directly from your browser. Let's embark on this journey to optimize your browsing experience and unlock the convenience of having Google at your fingertips whenever you open Safari.

Step 1: Open Safari Preferences

To begin the process of setting Google as the default browser on Mac Safari, the first step is to access the Safari Preferences. This fundamental action serves as the gateway to customizing your browsing experience and integrating Google's powerful search capabilities seamlessly into your Safari browser.

To open Safari Preferences, launch the Safari browser on your Mac. At the top of the screen, you will find the "Safari" option in the menu bar. Click on "Safari" to reveal a dropdown menu, and then select "Preferences" from the list. Alternatively, you can use the keyboard shortcut "Command + ," to swiftly access the Preferences window.

Upon selecting "Preferences," a new window will appear, presenting a range of customizable options that enable you to tailor your browsing environment to suit your preferences. This window serves as the central hub for configuring various settings within Safari, including those related to search engines and homepage preferences.

By navigating to the Preferences window, you gain access to a plethora of features that allow you to personalize your browsing experience. From security and privacy settings to search engine preferences, this comprehensive interface empowers you to fine-tune Safari according to your specific requirements.

In essence, opening Safari Preferences marks the initial step in the journey to prioritize Google as your default search engine and homepage. This pivotal action sets the stage for the subsequent steps, laying the foundation for a seamless integration of Google's search functionality into your Safari browsing experience.

With Safari Preferences now accessible, you are poised to embark on the next steps in this process, each of which will bring you closer to harnessing the full potential of Google's search engine directly from your Safari browser. Let's proceed to the next step and continue our journey toward optimizing your browsing experience by setting Google as the default browser on Mac Safari.

Step 2: Select Google as Default Search Engine

Upon accessing the Safari Preferences window, you will be presented with a series of tabs, including "Search." Click on the "Search" tab to reveal a selection of search engine options that can be configured as the default search engine for Safari. Within this tab, you will find a dropdown menu labeled "Search engine used in the address bar." Click on this dropdown menu to unveil a list of available search engines.

Among the list of search engines, you will find an array of options, including Google, Yahoo, Bing, and DuckDuckGo, each offering distinct search functionalities. To proceed with setting Google as the default search engine, simply select "Google" from the dropdown menu. This action designates Google as the primary search engine utilized when conducting searches directly from the address bar in Safari.

By selecting Google as the default search engine, you are aligning your browsing experience with the unparalleled search capabilities of Google's renowned search engine. This strategic choice empowers you to leverage Google's vast index of web content, enabling you to swiftly retrieve relevant information, explore diverse topics, and access a wealth of resources directly from your Safari browser.

The process of selecting Google as the default search engine is a pivotal step in optimizing your browsing experience, as it ensures that your search queries are seamlessly integrated with Google's robust search functionality. With Google as the default search engine, you can harness the power of Google's advanced algorithms and comprehensive database to retrieve accurate and relevant search results with remarkable efficiency.

Moreover, by prioritizing Google as the default search engine in Safari, you can capitalize on Google's intuitive search features, including predictive search suggestions, instant answers to queries, and personalized search results tailored to your preferences. This level of integration enhances the overall browsing experience, allowing you to access Google's wealth of information with unparalleled convenience and speed.

Having selected Google as the default search engine, you have taken a significant stride toward optimizing your browsing experience and aligning it with the unparalleled capabilities of Google's search engine. This strategic configuration sets the stage for a seamless and efficient search experience within Safari, empowering you to explore the web and access valuable information with unparalleled ease.

With Google now established as the default search engine in Safari, you are well-positioned to proceed to the next step in this process, which involves setting Google as your homepage. This subsequent action will further enhance the integration of Google's services into your browsing environment, providing seamless access to Google's suite of features directly from the moment you launch Safari. Let's continue our journey toward optimizing your browsing experience by proceeding to the next step.

Step 3: Set Google as Homepage

Setting Google as your homepage in Safari is a strategic move that can significantly enhance your browsing experience, providing instant access to Google's suite of services and the familiar interface of the Google search portal. By configuring Safari to open with Google as the homepage, you can seamlessly integrate Google's powerful search capabilities into your browsing environment, ensuring that Google's wealth of information and services are readily available from the moment you launch the browser.

To initiate the process of setting Google as your homepage, navigate to the Safari Preferences window, which serves as the central hub for customizing various aspects of your browsing experience. Within the Preferences window, click on the "General" tab, which presents a range of options related to Safari's general settings and startup behavior.

In the "General" tab, you will find a field labeled "Homepage." This field allows you to specify the URL of the website that you want Safari to load as your homepage. To set Google as your homepage, simply enter " www.google.com " in the Homepage field. This action designates Google's homepage as the default landing page when you launch Safari, ensuring that you are greeted by the familiar Google interface each time you open the browser.

By setting Google as your homepage, you establish a direct link to Google's extensive array of services, including Gmail, Google Maps, Google Drive, and more. This seamless integration enables you to swiftly access these services and explore the full spectrum of Google's offerings without the need to navigate to the Google website separately.

Moreover, having Google as your homepage provides immediate access to the powerful search capabilities of Google's search engine. This means that from the moment you launch Safari, you can initiate searches directly from the Google homepage, leveraging Google's advanced search algorithms and comprehensive index of web content to retrieve accurate and relevant search results with remarkable efficiency.

The process of setting Google as your homepage in Safari aligns your browsing environment with the convenience and functionality of Google's services, ensuring that you are well-equipped to explore the web, access valuable information, and leverage Google's suite of features with unparalleled ease.

With Google now established as your homepage in Safari, you have seamlessly integrated Google's powerful search capabilities and suite of services into your browsing environment, ensuring that you are primed to harness the full potential of Google directly from the moment you launch the browser. This strategic configuration optimizes your browsing experience, providing seamless access to Google's wealth of information and services, and empowering you to explore the web with unparalleled convenience and efficiency.

Step 4: Confirm Changes

Having completed the essential steps to set Google as the default browser on Mac Safari, it is imperative to confirm and finalize the changes made to the browser settings. This pivotal action ensures that the configurations you have implemented, including selecting Google as the default search engine and setting Google as your homepage, are seamlessly integrated into your browsing environment, thereby optimizing your overall browsing experience.

To confirm the changes, navigate to the Safari Preferences window, where you initially initiated the process of customizing your browser settings. By revisiting the Preferences window, you can verify that the adjustments made in the previous steps have been successfully applied and are reflected in the browser's configuration.

Upon accessing the Preferences window, review the settings within the "Search" and "General" tabs to ensure that Google has been designated as the default search engine and homepage, respectively. Confirm that the dropdown menu within the "Search" tab displays "Google" as the selected search engine used in the address bar. Additionally, verify that the URL specified in the "Homepage" field within the "General" tab corresponds to " www.google.com ," indicating that Google has been set as the homepage.

By meticulously confirming these changes, you can validate that Google is seamlessly integrated into your browsing environment, ensuring that you are well-equipped to leverage the full potential of Google's search capabilities and suite of services directly from the Safari browser.

Furthermore, confirming the changes serves as a crucial quality check, providing assurance that the adjustments made align with your preferences and effectively optimize your browsing experience. This meticulous validation process ensures that the configurations you have implemented are accurately reflected in the browser settings, thereby solidifying the seamless integration of Google into your Safari browsing environment.

With the changes confirmed, you can proceed with confidence, knowing that Google has been successfully established as the default browser on Mac Safari. This final validation step marks the culmination of the process, affirming that your browsing experience has been optimized to prioritize Google's powerful search functionality and suite of services, thereby enhancing your ability to explore the web and access valuable information with unparalleled ease and efficiency.

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Set the Default Browser From the Command Line on a Mac — Properly

Posted on: November 27, 2021 - last updated on November 28, 2021

2-minute read

Tags: tutorial • mac

## Setting the default browser while opening the browser

With Chrome and most Chromium based browsers, you can open the app from the command line and pass an argument to make it the default browser at the same time.

Those *could* also work:

But there are 3 big problems:

• It only works with some browsers.
• Involves opening the browser.
• Requires you to manually confirm your choice.

But fear not, here is the real solution you are looking for:

## Setting the default browser from the command line, the right way

There is a tool aptly called defaultbrowser which you can install with this one command:

(If this fails, you don’t have Homebrew installed. GET HOMEBREW. It’s good.)

Now that you have defaultbrowser installed, you can see a list of available HTTP handlers simply by running defaultbrowser and you can set a default browser by giving one of the items in the list as an argument.

This is nice, but we still have to confirm our choice!

You can quickly confirm your choice with tab + space , but how about automatic confirmation?

### Automatically accept the prompt with AppleScript

There is an app called Script Editor which ships with your mac.

Open it, and paste in this bad boi:

Most of the script above is a direct copy/paste from Stack Exchange: https://apple.stackexchange.com/a/255947/264341

item 1 of argv is going to be the first argument you give the script.

Once your save it, you can run it with something like this:

SUCCESS 🎉 But this is a rather long line. I suggest making a few aliases in your .zprofile file. (It should be at ~/.zprofile .) For instance, I have these:

GREAT SUCCESS 🎉 Now, I can switch default browser by entering dbb or dbc + enter .

And, in case you were wondering…

## Setting the default browser from System Preferences

You can change the default browser manually by opening system preferences and going to “general”, “Default web browser”.

Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, how to set default web browser in macos sonoma.

If you’re wondering how you can set the default web browser in macOS Sonoma to something else, maybe to Chrome, Firefox, Brave, or perhaps even back to Safari, you’ll find that it is relatively easy to do so. However, like so many other adjustments and tweaks to the latest macOS versions, it is different compared to prior versions of macOS and Mac OS X and what you may be accustomed to.

Web browsers are perhaps the most commonly used apps on computers nowadays and Macs are no exception. Safari is the default web browser on Macs, but anytime you install a new web browser on your Mac, it pushes itself to be set as the default browser, and many users may go along with that nudge to try out the latest browser, or just because we’re all accustomed to clicking through endless dialog requests. Since there are many web browser options out there, using a default web browser is a personal choice, and what some users may prefer, others may not.

How to Set Default Web Browser on MacOS Sonoma & Ventura

• Pull down the  Apple menu and go to System Settings
• Select Desktop & Dock from the sidebar list options
• Scroll down until you find the “Default web browser” section and pull down the dropdown menu next to that

• Select the web browser you want to set as your default browser on the Mac
• Close out of System Settings when finished

Once the change to the default web browser has been made, all future clicks on links in other apps will open through that set default browser. For example if you had Chrome set as your default, and you chose Safari Tech Preview as the new default, then all links clicked in something like Mail or Notes would now open in Safari Tech Preview.

There are many excellent browser options out there for Mac, and other platforms too, and it’s such a matter of personal preference that it’s a good idea to experiment with a variety of options and use which is best suited for you, or that you like the best for your own individual needs.

If you’re interested in learning broadly about changing the default web browser on a Mac, go here , where we cover the necessary steps for all versions of MacOS and Mac OS X.

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where did you get the wallpaper from in your screenshots?

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How to change default browser on Mac Monterey

If you want to change the default browser i.e. Safari to some other such as Firefox or Google Chrome, you can do so by going to System Preferences > General > Default web Browser , from the drop down select from the Brewers that you have installed on your device.

This has been tested on macOS Monterey 12.2

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Search engine back to Safari default

Hi , how do I change my search engine back to safari I seen someone say “  just go to the  menu at the top of your screen, then click on System Preferences... -->

General --> click the "Default web browser" popup and select "Safari.app" from the list of options. After that, next time you click a web link in any app it should open in Safari. “ but i don’t see that can somebody maybe make a video of them doing it ?

iPhone XR, iOS 16

Posted on May 18, 2023 12:45 AM

Posted on Nov 18, 2023 1:03 PM

How to make safari my default

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Nov 18, 2023 1:03 PM in response to amyah130

Oct 15, 2023 3:17 PM in response to amyah130

I want to go back to Safari for my web page.

Nov 26, 2023 6:45 AM in response to amyah130

Safari, made by Apple, is a web browser, not a search engine. Apple doesn't have its own search engine, and uses Google as the default on Apple devices.

However, you have the option to set Google (default), Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, or Ecosia, as your default search engine.

May 18, 2023 7:00 AM in response to amyah130

It sounds as if you're asking how to make Safari your default browser . If you're using your iPhone, the only equipment you've listed in your post, Safari is the default browser until you change it to something else. To do that you would need, for example to go to Settings>Chrome>Default Browser App and make it the default browser. Then, and only then, would you see the option under Settings>Safari to change it back to Safari as the default.

If you are using a Mac, what version of Mac OS are you running? If you're running Ventura, the directions are not what you described. See here:

Make Safari your default web browser on Mac - Apple Support

Jan 31, 2024 5:53 PM in response to amyah130

I was away from home and someone removed my Safari when using Chrome to connect my Mac Pro yo his internet. The icon is there, click and it says the application “Safari.app” is not open anymore. Information is still in Recent. i really must get it back need my Mac. Years of documents and research on it. It is still on my phone IPhone 13. Probably Not hard but I am fearful of doing something that deletes it all or overlays on Icloud so backup is gone. Sorry but as you can tell I do not know what I am doing

Feb 5, 2024 6:09 AM in response to yeti_369

What is the difference between a search engine and a web browser

Nov 18, 2023 1:15 PM in response to Imaroadqueen

Imaroadqueen wrote:

I answered the question in my post above.

Jan 17, 2024 7:05 AM in response to Csa2285

Csa2285 wrote:

How can I change my search engine from safari to google and back?

There is no such thing as a "safari search engine". Safari is a browser. Apple does not have a search engine.

If you want to change the default search engine from your iPhone, to go Settings>Safari>Search Engine. The options are Google, Yahoo, Bing, Yandes, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia.

If you want to change your default browser, see my post from above:

Jan 23, 2024 11:25 PM in response to Imaroadqueen

can i use safari as my web browser and download a google app for specific websites? I do not want to change safari.

Apr 30, 2024 7:27 AM in response to amyah130

Return safaris to Home Screen

Feb 5, 2024 7:07 AM in response to Notthegoog

Notthegoog wrote:

In very simple terms, a search engine is a website you go to and enter in a query. Google is a very popular search engine. A browser is an application you use to access websites. Apple includes the Safari browser on all of their devices.

You can use any browser to access Google. You can use Safari, Chrome, or Brave. Conversely, you can use a browser to access any search engine. For example, you can use Safari to access the search engine DuckDuckGo.

Mar 8, 2024 2:40 PM in response to Bob72 Nightingall-..

Bob72 Nightingall-.. wrote:

I don’t like google as my prime search engine, I’d like Safari

There is no "Safari search engine". Safari is a web browser. From Safari, you can use any search engine you choose.

On an iPhone, you can set your default search engine in Settings>Safari>Search Engine. Your options are Google, Yahoo, Bing, Yandex, DuckDuckGo and Ecosia. If you want one that doesn't track you, go with DuckDuckGo.

May 15, 2024 6:47 AM in response to rmcclu4983

rmcclu4983 wrote:

I’m trying to get my Safari search engine back.

There is no such thing as a "Safari search engine". Safari is a browser. Apple does not have its own search engine. The differences have been explained earlier in this thread.

May 18, 2023 6:16 AM in response to amyah130

Reply to : amyah130 🔍 Search Engine / Web Browser

This may clarify your issue :

Safari is a web browser by Apple . 🍎             Search Engine is an application that

It's a computer program used to navigate        searches for & retrieves data . You can 

 the World Wide Web , by viewing web            choose your preference here :  

pages & following hyperlinks .                        Settings > Safari > search engine .

Jan 23, 2024 11:30 PM in response to NANCI KNIGHT

NANCI KNIGHT wrote:

You can have more than one browser on your Mac. Chrome is the browser made by the same company that runs the Google search engine. Brave is another option that is often recommended. Download both and see which one you like.