Windows 10 operating system comes with the new Microsoft Edge web browser replacing old Internet Explorer browser and is set as default browser when you install latest OS from Microsoft on PC. Windows 10 was launched last July and has been a hit among users, 300 million PCs have upgraded to Windows 10 in just nine months. Unsurprisingly to capitalizing on this popularity of its new OS, Microsoft looks intent to promote its own products like Microsoft Edge browser over competitors’ offering like Chrome & Firefox in an attempt to lure users back to its own web browser who has been alienated by lackluster Internet Explorer browser. However, being an ardent fan if you want to set Chrome/Firefox as default browser on Windows 10 instead of Edge browser, there are some easy fixes for it as described in this guide.
Changing default browser settings are different on Windows 10 compared to those of Windows 8/8.1/7/XP/Vista. Microsoft has introduced new changes such as you cannot set Chrome or Firefox as default browser at the time of installation, you must do it manually after installing the web browser using new Windows 10 Settings app or Control Panel as we are going to show you in this post. Reason behind this move from Microsoft is not hard to grasp, it wants users to experience new Edge browser, which delivers far superior user experience than Internet Explorer.
Microsoft Edge is an improvement over previous Microsoft web browsers but still being new to the market it suffers from lack of add-on and plug-in support, it lags behind Chrome and Firefox in this respect. If your Edge browser experience didn’t convince you to stick to it and want to go back to Chrome/Firefox as default browser, or you forgot to set Chrome/Firefox as default browsers at the time of installations on Windows 10 then follow instructions given in guide below to set Chrome or Firefox as default Windows 10 web browser.
How to set Firefox or Chrome as Default Windows 10 Web Browser:
Following methods contain instructions for setting Chrome or Firefox as Windows 10 default web browser if Microsoft Edge failed to make its mark on you.
Set Firefox as Default Windows 10 Browser:
- Install Firefox browser and open it.
- Click Menu icon (three horizontal lines) on the top right corner of the browser window.
- Now select Options from the list.
- On Options window click General tab.
- Click Make Default button on General options window.
- This will take you to new Windows 10 settings window, scroll down to web browser option on settings windows and click on the default web browser icon (mostly Edge browser is set as default).
- New choose an app window will pop-up, select Firefox from the list and hit OK.
All done. Now Firefox will be the default web browser on your Windows 10. All web pages and links will automatically open in Firefox from now on. You can change default browser from Firefox, for this open Firefox and go to menu > options > make > general > make default and hit reset button.
Set Firefox/Chrome as Default Browsers from Control Panel & Windows 10 Settings:
There are a few other ways by which you can change default browser on Windows 10, if you failed to do so at the time of installing Chrome or Firefox.
First go to Control Panel to change default web browser. Click on Start button and select Control Panel to open it. Now go to control panel > programs > default programs > set default programs and choose Chrome or Firefox from the list and click OK button.
Second way is to go to start > settings > system > default apps and under choose default apps window’s right pane click on the default browser icon to change to the one you like from pop-up window.
All done. These are basic and easy ways to change Default Web Browser on Windows 10 PC/laptops.
For more on AppsforWin10, Read: How to Uninstall Edge Browser on PC (Windows 10) & Puffin Web Browser for PC Windows 10 & Mac