Change the default web browser or email app on Mac

Choose which app opens when you click a link for a website or email address.

Change the default web browser

Make sure that the web browser you want to use is already installed. Then find out which version of macOS you're using and follow the appropriate steps.

In macOS Ventura or later

  1. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Settings.

  2. Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar.

  3. Scroll down and choose a web browser from the “Default web browser” menu on the right.

In earlier versions of macOS

  1. From the Apple menu  in the corner of your screen, choose System Preferences.

  2. Click General.

  3. Choose a web browser from the “Default web browser” menu.

Change the default email app

Make sure that the email app you want to use is already installed, then follow these steps.

  1. Open the Mail app.

  2. From the Mail menu in the menu bar, choose Settings (or Preferences).*

  3. Click General.

  4. Choose an email app from the “Default email reader” pop-up menu. If you don't see your email app in the menu, choose Select from the menu, then select your email app from the file dialog that opens. If you're using webmail instead of an email app, you can choose a web browser in this step, but the browser might not open webmail automatically when you click email links. Some third-party browsers and webmail services might have their own settings to change this behavior.

* To change settings in Mail, you must first have added an email account in Mail. If you don't want to do that, open the other email app that you want to use, then check its settings for a similar way to set the default email reader.

Change the default web browser or email app on iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

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