Changing Mac OS X’s Default Web Browser

It doesn’t have to be Safari.

By default, Mac OS X is pre-configured with Safari, Apple’s Web browser, set as the default Web browser. That means clicking a link to a Web URL in an e-mail message or other document will automatically open that link in Safari.

But you can easily change it to a browser you prefer. Here’s how:

1. Open the Safari Web browser.
2. Choose Safari > Preferences to open the preferences window.
3. If necessary, click the General button in the preferences window’s toolbar to display General options.
4. Choose the Browser you prefer from the Default Web Browser pop-up menu. If the browser is not listed by name, you can choose Select from the menu and use the dialog that appears to locate and select the browser you want. (Obviously, the browser must be installed on your computer to select it.)
5. Click the window’s close button to dismiss it.
6. Choose Safari > Quit Safari to quit Safari.

Changes take affect as soon as you quit Safari.

Note that the preferences window shown here is for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. These steps also work in Tiger, although the preferences window may look different.

Chapter and Page References

Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide includes more information about related topics:

• Connecting to the Internet, Chapter 18
• Mac OS X’s Internet Applications, page 419
• Using Safari, pages 445-447