When you purchase a new Windows 11 computer, Microsoft aggressively sets its own proprietary browser, Microsoft Edge, as the default application for opening every single hyperlink on your machine. Even if you download and install Google Chrome, clicking a link inside a PDF or a chat application like Discord will stubbornly launch Microsoft Edge.
Historically, Microsoft made changing this setting incredibly difficult, forcing users to manually assign Chrome to over a dozen different individual file extensions. Fortunately, due to significant consumer backlash, Microsoft released an update that restores a single-click “Set Default” button.
How to Set Google Chrome as the Default Browser
You must ensure your copy of Windows 11 is fully updated before attempting this, as older builds do not feature this button.
- Open the Windows 11 Settings app by pressing
Windows Key + I. - In the left-hand navigation pane, click on Apps.
- In the main right-hand menu, click on Default apps.
- Under the search bar labeled “Set defaults for applications,” type Google Chrome.
- Click the Google Chrome icon when it appears in the list below the search bar.
- At the very top of the Chrome settings page, you will see a banner asking “Make Google Chrome your default browser.” Click the prominent Set default button.
The moment you click that button, Windows will instantly sprint through the list below and automatically assign Chrome to all the critical web protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS, and HTML.
The PDF Exception
While that button catches 99% of web traffic, Microsoft stubbornly retains control over PDF documents.
If you want Chrome to also act as your default PDF reader, scroll down the same settings list until you find the .pdf entry (it will likely still display the Microsoft Edge icon). Click the Edge icon, select Google Chrome from the pop-up list, and click “Set default.”