Setting Google as your default in Windows 11 can mean two things: making Chrome your default browser, or making Google the search engine in the browser you already use. This guide covers both.
Quick Answer
Install Chrome, then open Settings, Apps, Default apps, select Google Chrome and click Set default. To keep Edge but search with Google, change the address bar search engine in Edge settings.
How to Make Chrome Your Default Browser in Windows 11
- Install Chrome from google.com/chrome if it is not already installed.
- Open Settings (Windows key + I), then Apps, then Default apps.
- Search for or select Google Chrome in the list.
- Click Set default at the top of the page.
- Open a link from an email or document to confirm it opens in Chrome.
- You can also open Chrome, go to Settings, Default browser and click Make default, which takes you to the same Windows page.
Google Search Without Switching Browsers
| Browser | Where to change the search engine |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Edge | Settings, Privacy, search, and services, Address bar and search, Search engine used in the address bar |
| Chrome | Settings, Search engine (Google is the default) |
| Firefox | Settings, Search, Default Search Engine |
Related: How to Use Google Search: A Beginner’s Guide.
Check the File and Link Types
Google’s Chrome Help page recommends reviewing the list under Set default file types or link types after you click Set default. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps > Google Chrome and make sure these show Chrome:
- HTTP and HTTPS, which control web links from other apps.
- .htm and .html, which control saved web pages.
- .pdf, only if you want PDFs to open in Chrome rather than another reader.
Click any type that still shows another app, choose Google Chrome, and click Set default.
Bring Your Bookmarks and Passwords Over
Switching browsers is easier when your saved sites come with you. In Chrome, open the three-dot menu, choose Settings > You and Google > Import bookmarks and settings, pick Microsoft Edge (or your previous browser), select what to import, and click Import. Signing in to Chrome with your Google Account then syncs everything to your other devices.
Make Google Your Start Page in Chrome
Chrome opens the New Tab page with a Google search box by default. To open google.com or another set of pages every time, go to Settings > On startup and choose Open a specific page or set of pages. To show a Home button, turn it on under Settings > Appearance.
Keep Chrome Handy
- Right-click Chrome on the taskbar while it’s open and choose Pin to taskbar.
- Remove or unpin Edge from the taskbar if you don’t use it, though Edge stays installed because parts of Windows rely on it outside the European Economic Area.
- If Edge offers to become the default again, choose the option to keep your current settings. Your choice in Default apps stays in place.
Using Windows 10? The steps differ slightly; see how to set Google Chrome as the default browser in Windows 10. For other browsers, see how to change the default browser in Windows 11.
Troubleshooting
- No Set default button: update Windows. Older builds require changing each file type (.htm, .html, HTTP, HTTPS) one at a time.
- Some links still open in Edge: links from Windows widgets, Search and some Microsoft apps may open in Edge regardless of your default.
- Chrome not listed: reinstall it, then reopen Settings.
- Related: changing to any default browser and removing Bing from Chrome.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Google a browser?
No. Google is a search engine; Chrome is Google’s browser.
Will this delete Edge?
No. Edge stays installed.
Does it change my PDF viewer?
No. .pdf is set separately in Default apps.
Can I switch back?
Yes. Repeat the steps with another browser.
Summary
- Install Chrome.
- Open Default apps.
- Select Google Chrome.
- Click Set default.
- Test with a link.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.