If you have more than one browser installed on your computer, you will constantly be faced with a notification asking which one you want to use to open a particular file. Over time, this may become boring, and you will be left with two options - remove all browsers except the most convenient one, or change the settings and select the default browser.
What is the "default browser"?
In your computer's main settings, you can find the "Default Browser" option. It indicates which browser on your computer will open the links. That is, if you open a file containing a link to a document or page, you will not receive the message “Which browser should you use to run this command?”, but will immediately go to the desired tab.
How to set and configure your default browser
There are several ways to change the browser that will be given priority in completing tasks.
Universal method
This method is suitable for raising any browser to the “default” status, since the parameters will be changed through the settings of the computer itself. The only difference is the location of these settings, depending on the version of Windows.
How to change in Windows 10
How to change in Windows 7 and 8
How to assign manually
If for some reason you cannot change the default browser through your computer settings, you can do this through the browser itself. If you are using Windows 8.1, 10, then settings will appear on the screen in which you will need to confirm the action by manually changing the browser.
How to Set Google Chrome as Default
How to change settings for Opera
Setting up settings for Mozilla Firefox
What settings should I set to use Yandex Browser?
How to make Internet Explorer your permanent default browser
How to set Microsoft Edge as default
Confirmation of change
The last way to change your default browser is to agree to the notification that sometimes appears when you launch a non-primary browser.
What to do if the default browser is not installed
There are several ways to help resolve the error that keeps the browser defaults reset or not set at all.
Restarting the computer
The first thing to do in such a situation is to restart the computer. All programs and background processes will be restarted and may start working correctly.
Reinstallation
Completely erase the browser from your computer’s memory, and then download the installation file from the developer’s official website and go through the installation process. This can help when the files responsible for the operation of the browser have been damaged by a virus or user actions.
Change how programs and files open
If you can’t set the default browser, you can do the opposite: set all files and programs to a browser through which they will be required to open when launched.
So, if you use several browsers at the same time, then you need to choose the most convenient one and change the computer settings so that all necessary files and programs opened with it by default. This can be done through Windows settings or the settings of the browser itself. If your default browser keeps resetting, then you need to fix this problem manually using one of the above methods.
With the release of the new OS, the world also saw a new Internet browser called Edge. Alas, a significant part of the program code, except for its most outdated parts, was taken from the source code Internet Explorer. Most users, even after switching to Windows 10, do not want to use the imposed Microsoft software software and are looking for methods to change the default browser, which is what we will do today. We will also look at how it is configured.
Changing your default browser
Previously, changing the browser could be done by going to the program settings and clicking the corresponding button or checking a box, but in Windows 10 this method does not work.
Now you can change the system's Internet browser through the new for Windows menu– “Parameters”.
- We call the window using keyboard shortcut"Win+I".
- We go to the first section “System”.
- Go to the “Default Applications” subsection.
- Scroll to the bottom of the list, find the web browser and click on the program icon.
- Select the required application from the list and close the window.
Setting the default browser using the second method
As was the case in the “seven”, in Windows 10 you can set the applications used in the system by default through the “Control Panel”.
- We call the “Control Panel”, for example, through the search.
- Go to the “Programs” section.
- Click on the “Set default applications” link.
- Select the required application and click on the inscription shown in the screenshot.
- Click "OK".
Making the Edge configuration
Let's look at the basic settings of the new browser, thanks to which there is no sluggish Internet Explorer in Windows 10.
Changing your home page
Setting up a home page begins with changing the parameters of the button responsible for going to it.
In Edge, the go to button home page is present, but not active (hidden) by default, so first you need to activate it.
- Open an Internet browser window in Windows 10.
- In the additional actions menu, call up one of the last items in the list, “Options”.
- Click on the “View additional” button. Settings" to open a window where advanced browser settings are performed.
- Move the first switch “Display button...” to the “On” position.
Now the start page is configured.
- We return to the “Options” menu.
- Move the checkbox to the “Specific page...” position.
- In the “Enter web address” form, insert a link to the site that will be home page, and click on the floppy disk icon.
Interesting: the new browser's capabilities include the ability to set multiple home pages. To do this, after adding and saving the first address, enter the 2nd and all subsequent ones using the same method. Their number is limited only by the amount of RAM installed on the PC.
Changing the Edge theme
Just like you can change the window theme in Windows 10, you can change the color theme in Edge. This is all done in the same “Settings” section where the browser is configured.
- Click on the button with three dots.
- Click “Options”.
- In the first drop-down list “Select a theme”, select one of the two available themes: “Light” or “Dark”.
Changes take effect immediately.
We pin the program icon in Start and on the start screen
In Windows 10 there is an opportunity quick call applications not only through shortcuts on the desktop, Start, or taskbar, but also through a new Start item called the Start screen.
To pin the browser icon to Start or the Start screen, you need to call context menu program icon and select the appropriate item from the drop-down list.
Among other innovations, the operating room Windows system 10 marked a completely new browser Edge, which replaced the oldest Internet browser in the world, Internet Explorer (IE). The latter still exists, but is hidden quite far in the depths operating system. It was even removed from the taskbar. Apparently, Internet Explorer now serves only one purpose - to ensure so-called backward compatibility. In addition, it is still considered the most secure browser for financial transactions. Many companies use special software in combination with IE for mutual settlements. New browser Edge has loudly announced itself with all sorts of (in my opinion, unhelpful) innovations, but nevertheless continues to actively change and develop. For example, in July 2016, when a major Redstone update was released for the “ten,” the functionality of “Edge” improved noticeably. Small details personally pleased me. For example, when you right-clicked on a bookmark, the “Open in a new tab” and “Edit” options appeared, and in address bar Now the “Paste and Go” option has appeared. Little things, but nice. However, in other browsers they were implemented a long time ago.
Which browser to choose for Windows 10?
Be that as it may, despite all the improvements, neither one (Edge) nor another (Internet Explorer) browser from Microsoft personally makes me categorically outdated. I am by no means alone in this opinion. According to a reputable Irish service StatCounter for the first two weeks of September 2016, the number of users Edge in Russia does not exceed the statistical error, and Internet Explorer Only 5.5% of our country's residents use it. True, it is still one of the five most popular browsers in Russia. The undisputed leader in the Russian Federation is Google Chrome (48.4%), and are already followed by Mozilla Firefox (14,85%), Yandex (12.27%) and Opera (almost 9%).
Which of these browsers to choose in order to replace the default Edge installed in Windows 10 is up to everyone to decide for themselves. Personally, I use several Internet browsers for different needs. My main one is Google Chrome, the second most used is Opera. Both of them, in my opinion, are quite comfortable and nimble. In addition, compared to others, they have the most improved data synchronization function, which allows you to reinstall the top ten, log into the browser, enter your account information and immediately return all your bookmarks, passwords, etc.
P.S.: Often, when installing any programs, you will be prompted to install a browser. Amigo from Mail.ru. I strongly do not recommend doing this. It has so many spam add-ons that even traditionally quiet antivirus programs they start swearing at him. In general, I personally try to stay away from Mail developments: it’s difficult to find more intrusive services than this seemingly large and even respected (at least in the financial world) company. In general, this Amigo is a completely undignified product, and after installing it, it’s very annoying to clean out all the software garbage that appeared with it without any reason.
Changing the main browser in Windows 10 step by step
Now let’s move on to the actual process of changing the default Internet browser in Windows 10. There are at least two ways to do this: through the old and well-known Control Panel or using new feature « Options».
1 way
First, let's look at more new way, through "Options". I believe that it is better to immediately master innovations than to habitually grab onto the “shards” of old operating systems in the form of the Control Panel. Moreover, the new method is much more convenient and clearer for ordinary users, while the old one is confusing and more suitable for professionals.
- First, you need to launch the tool itself in the “Start” menu or in the “Notification Center” Options" In both cases, you need to perform two actions, so they are the same in terms of execution speed. Choose for yourself what is more convenient. Want even faster? Click Win+i.
- Now open the item “ Applications».
- In the left column, select the second item “ Default apps».
- Then scroll down the page to the point “ Web browser", click on it and select the Internet browser we need as the main one.
After this, Windows 10 may ask additional question, about whether we really don't want to use their amazing Edge product as our default browser anymore. We answer what we consider necessary and close “Options”. There is no need to save changes anywhere; they take effect automatically after making a choice. Now default browser in Windows 10 changed.
Method 2
I won’t describe in detail the second, more complicated method. I will give it in the form of specific steps:
- We find through the search (magnifying glass on the taskbar) “Control Panel”.
- Go to the “Programs” tab (green).
- Among the many books we find a large green “Default Programs” item.
- Go to the item “Set default programs”.
- We wait a certain amount of time while the system collects data about all programs by default.
- In the list that appears on the left, select the browser we need and click on the right “Set this program as default.”
I think you will agree with me that the first method is much faster and easier. However, it doesn’t hurt to know about the second option either. It allows you to make more detailed, fine settings, for example, change those default programs that are not available to us through “Options”. However, it is easier to “get lost” in it. Therefore, in a situation where we just need change the default browser used in Windows 10, a simpler, faster and more understandable method will be enough for us.
After clean install or updating the operating system to Windows 10, it will assign the built-in Edge as the main browser (you can find out how to disable it in the article). But if you are used to using a different browser to surf the Internet, you need to know how to set the default browser in Windows 10.
Setting your default browser
There are several ways to set the Internet browser you previously used as default.
In the Settings app
In Control Panel
In Internet browser settings
In the settings of each Internet browser, you can set it as the main one. How to do this, look at the example of Google Chrome.
Good to know! You can also set the main browser to the one you constantly use during its installation. You will be prompted to do this automatically.
Mapping files to the main browser
To associate a specific file type with your main browser, it's better to use the classic Control Panel because it gives you more options than the Settings app.
Video
Watch the video to see how to use all three methods to set your default browser.
Conclusion
Built-in browser in Windows 10 despite new ones additional features rarely used as the default Internet browser. Therefore, you can set the main browser that you are used to using. This can be done in the Control Panel, the Settings application, or in the program itself.
IN Windows versions, starting from 8.1 and older, few people are interested in the issue of setting the default browser, since all these issues are decided for users by the developers of this type of software. During installation, one or another third-party web browser offers to become the main browser in the system. And all you need to do for this is to confirm the request for this operation. Well, or refuse at the beginning, and then return to this issue later and in the browser settings manually enable the option to designate it as the default program for accessing the Internet. In Windows 10, Microsoft limited the willfulness of the creators of web browsers and left it up to users to make the final decision about which browser will be the main one in the system.
IN current version system, the option to set the browser as default in its settings does not take effect immediately. If we want to make, for example, Firefox the main one in the system,
after clicking the corresponding option in its settings, we will be taken to standard application"Settings", in the "Default Applications" section.
Where we need to manually select Firefox.
Moreover, if Microsoft Edge is dethroned for the first time, Windows 10 will ask the user to hold off on making a decision and still try to work with the Internet in the window of a standard web browser. Many browser developers, especially the Mozilla Foundation, were publicly outraged at this situation at one time. But Microsoft remained adamant. Moreover, in current Windows build 10, and this is as of the date of writing the article 1709 (Fall Creators Update), the ability to set default programs in the control panel has been removed. More precisely, the settings section responsible for this possibility remains, but all its options lead to a section similar to the “Settings” application.
What to do if it is impossible to select in this section desired browser to make him the main one? If it’s simply not there, or if it’s there, no matter how much you select it with a mouse click, it still doesn’t get selected.
In the same section of “Parameters” (path “Applications – Default Applications”), go lower and click the option to set default values for each individual program.
Find the desired browser in the list and click “Manage”.
And we indicate it as the main one for each of the file extensions and protocols present in the list (or only for the fundamentally important ones).
If the web browser has just been installed and it is not in any list, relog into the system (or reboot) and try to repeat the steps. As a last resort, you can try to solve the problem by reinstalling the browser. If updates are suspended in Windows 10, system glitches may disappear after implementation latest updates. This usually happens when developers make patch updates.
