Default browser: how to change it, otherwise all links open in Internet Explorer (Edge)

Good day!

Usually, the vast majority of users have at least one more browser installed in addition to the standard Internet Explorer (Chrome, Opera, Firefox, etc.). However, the system often opens any links by default in IE (which is convenient).

For example, if you work with documents in Office, you click on a link and you do not get into your main working browser (and this is the case every time). The same can be the case when reading some e-books, magazines (where there are footnotes), calling help in the software, etc.

In this note I will suggest several ways how you can change the browser in the system, which by default opens all links and help. I think it can be quite useful in normal day to day work on a PC / laptop. 👌

Choosing a default browser

Windows 10

Windows 10, unlike other systems, does not allow you to make it the main one right from the browser window. Therefore, to resolve this issue, you will have to open the OS options (or using the keyboard shortcut Win + i, or through START).

Next, you need to go to the section "Apps / apps by default" and left-click on the menu "Web browser" . 👇

Default Apps - Windows 10 Settings

After that, it remains only to choose from the list that appears that program that will become your main one. In my example, I chose Chrome ...

Browser selection

👉 Note!

If your browser is not in the list for selection in the Windows settings (and this happens with portable versions of browsers, see the screen above ☝), then you can try to turn this "trick":

find or create an HTML file (any will do);
right-click on it and select the menu "Open With -> Choose Another Application" and specify your browser (👇);
then open Windows 10 settings again and your browser will appear in the coveted list ...

Open with another app

Windows 7/8

Method 1

1) First you need to open the Windows Control Panel. This can be done through the START menu, or by pressing the combinations Win + R (to open the "Run" window) and entering the command control.

👉 To help!

How to open the Control Panel in Windows (including in Windows 10, where links to it have been removed)

2) After, you need to go to the section "Default Programs / Programs" .

Control Panel - Programs

3) Then, go to subsection "Setting default programs" , select the desired browser from the list and install the option on it "Use this program as default" .

Setting default programs

Method 2

You can also make the browser the main one without leaving it. Here are a couple of examples below.

Chrome... You need to open the browser settings page ( chrome: // settings / ). Next, find the subsection "Default Browser" and click on the button "Use" . 👇

Chrome - use by default

Firefox... It is enough to open the program settings and in the tab "Basic" push the button "Set as default" .

Firefox - set as default

Opera... Almost the same as the above software: you also need to go to the settings, open the tab "Additionally" and click on the button "Set browser as main" . 👇