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Quick Answer

Open Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for the browser you want (e.g., Chrome), click it, and select Set default at the top of the screen.

How to Set Your Default Browser and Home Page ​

Applies to: Windows 11, Windows 10 (Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome)
Article Type: How-To
Last Updated: 2026-03-09

Summary ​

Your default browser is the one that opens when you click a link in an email or document. Your home page is the first page you see when opening a new browser window. This article explains how to change both — no admin rights needed.

Prerequisites ​

  • Windows 10 or Windows 11.
  • The browser you want to set as default must already be installed.

Instructions ​

1. Set Your Default Browser on Windows 11 ​

Change which browser opens links.

  1. Open Settings (Win+I).
  2. Go to Apps > Default apps.
  3. Scroll down or search for the browser you want (e.g., Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge).
  4. Click the browser name.
  5. Click Set default at the top.
  6. The browser is now set as your default for HTTP, HTTPS, and HTML links.

2. Set Your Default Browser on Windows 10 ​

The process is similar but in a slightly different location.

  1. Open Settings (Win+I).
  2. Go to Apps > Default apps.
  3. Scroll to Web browser.
  4. Click the current browser and select your preferred browser from the list.

3. Set the Home Page in Microsoft Edge ​

Choose what page loads when you open Edge.

  1. Open Edge.
  2. Click the three-dot menu (⋯) > Settings.
  3. Click Start, home, and new tabs in the left sidebar.
  4. Under When Edge starts, choose:
    • Open the new tab page — Edge's default tab.
    • Open tabs from the previous session — restores where you left off.
    • Open these pages — Click Add a new page and enter your preferred URL(s).
  5. Under Home button, toggle it on and enter the URL you want for the Home button.

4. Set the Home Page in Google Chrome ​

Choose what page loads when you open Chrome.

  1. Open Chrome.
  2. Click the three-dot menu (⋮) > Settings.
  3. Click On startup in the left sidebar.
  4. Choose:
    • Open the New Tab page.
    • Continue where you left off.
    • Open a specific page or set of pages — click Add a new page and enter your URL(s).
  5. For the Home button:
    • Click Appearance in the left sidebar.
    • Toggle Show home button on.
    • Enter your preferred URL.

5. Set the Default Search Engine ​

Change the search engine used in the address bar.

Edge:

  1. Go to Settings > Privacy, search, and services.
  2. Scroll to Address bar and search > Search engine used in the address bar.
  3. Select your preferred engine (Google, Bing, DuckDuckGo, etc.).

Chrome:

  1. Go to Settings > Search engine.
  2. Select your preferred engine from the dropdown.

Troubleshooting ​

INFO

On Windows 11, some links (e.g., from Widgets or Cortana) may still open in Edge even after changing your default browser. This is by design for certain system components.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Links still open in the old browserDefault not fully setGo to Settings > Apps > Default apps, select the new browser, and click Set default to ensure all link types are assigned.
Home page resets after restartingAn extension is overriding settingsDisable browser extensions and reset the home page. See the Manage Browser Extensions article.
Cannot change default browserOrganization policyYour IT department enforces the default browser. Ask IT whether it can be changed for your account, and name the sites that need the other browser.