After installing the Windows 10 Anniversary Edition, it sets Microsoft Edge as the default browser even if you had Chrome or Firefox as your default previously.
While Edge has been improved in this edition and finally supports extensions, you might not want it as the default. Or maybe you have your browser of choice already set up how you like it and don’t care to take the time to set up Edge. Here’s how to set it back.
Note: We showed you how to set the default browser in the previous version of Windows 10 which you can read here. However, when you install the Anniversary Update it switches it back to Edge again, and you need to know where to go to change it back.
Set Default Browser Windows 10 Anniversary Update
Hit the Windows key and type: default browser and select the Choose a default web browser option at the top.
There you will see Microsoft Edge is set as the default and is the only option. Microsoft being, well, Microsoft again.
So to change it, you need to scroll down a bit and select Set defaults by app.
That opens a new Window, scroll down in the right column and highlight Google Chrome. Then select Set this program as default and then make sure to click OK.
Now anytime you click any links in your email or other apps, your browser of choice opens up and not Edge.
What are your thoughts on having to change the default browser (and some other programs) each time Microsoft releases a major Windows 10 update? I find it to be quite annoying.
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Just please keep things civil because I know it irritates a lot of users.
5 Comments
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Pat Wadsworth
September 14, 2016 at 9:40 am
In the Set your default programs window, you scroll down the LEFT column to Google Chrome and highlight it, then select it in the right column and hit OK.
holdum333
September 14, 2016 at 10:45 am
Hi Brian! My W10 Home lets me choose Firefox as default. My settings looks different then yours!
My trouble is the new update KB3189866. It’s bricking my PC and I have had to use Macrium Relflect twice to recover, Now that really annoys me.
Thanks for your blogs!
Sue
September 14, 2016 at 12:50 pm
Totally agree that Microsoft assumes more authority than we users want to concede. I am going to try your default browser tip on my Surface II Pro where I have been living with Bing as default (a terrible search engine, it is more like a shopping network) unless I do a workaround each time I search to get to Google. What a pain. The Microsoft programs engage in the same bullying – in my work I need to use MS Visio frequently and with every update it gets more and more difficult because is *assumes* that it knows what you want to do. I spend a large percentage of my time in the program undoing Microsoft’s assumptions. I agree with you…very irritating. Truthfully – I’d worry if I was a company whose customers view every product update with abject fear and loathing.
Don
December 22, 2016 at 8:23 am
Equally annoying is the new behavior I am now experiencing on my Thinkpad. Every time I scan in with my fingerprint after waking the screen, Edge, even though not set as default, opens and prompts me to switch from Chrome, claiming it is safer and faster. I’ve tried switching to Edge, but it refuses repeatedly to import my favorites or bookmarks from Chrome, so I’m done trying. This makes the new intrusion even more bothersome for me.
Valerie
February 20, 2017 at 7:09 am
Hi Brian! Thanks for your terrific newsletter! And yes, I agree with the above comments regarding Microsoft’s attempts to control my user experience – very annoying! I use Outlook and my links would open in Edge even though I changed my default browser through the control panel. Links from other programs would open properly (in Chrome) but Outlook still used Edge. Your above article finally showed me how to fix the problem correctly. Thank you! I must say, because of Microsoft’s continuing and increasing lack of respect for its customers, I’m seriously thinking about switching to Apple. I’m curious about other user’s experience with Apple – especially those who must use both platforms. How do the two compare with regard to control over the system?