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How to Change Your Default Browser on iPhone (2026 Guide)

To change your default browser on iPhone, go to Settings → Apps → Default Apps → Browser App and pick the browser you want. From then on, links you tap in Mail, Messages, Notes and most other apps open there instead of Safari.

Below are the exact steps for current and older iOS versions, how to switch back to Safari, and what to do when the option is missing or links still open in Safari.

How to change your default browser (iOS 18.2 and later, including iOS 26)

First install the browser you want from the App Store. Then:

  1. Open Settings and tap Apps.
  2. Tap Default Apps at the top of the list.
  3. Tap Browser App.
  4. Choose the browser you want. A checkmark shows the current default.

That's it. There's no save button, and you don't need to restart your iPhone. Apple covers this screen in its guide to changing your default apps on iPhone and iPad.

The other way: from the browser's own settings

You can also set it from the app's page in Settings:

  1. Open Settings → Apps and tap the browser's name (for example Chrome).
  2. Tap Default Browser App.
  3. Choose the browser you want.

On iOS 17 and earlier there's no Apps section, so the path is Settings, scroll down to the browser, then Default Browser App.

How to set Chrome (or any browser) as the default

The steps are the same for every browser. Install it, go to Settings → Apps → Default Apps → Browser App, and select it. Many browsers also show a "set as default" prompt the first time you open them, which takes you straight to the right Settings screen. You only have to choose the app; iOS does the rest.

How to change your default browser back to Safari

Go to Settings → Apps → Default Apps → Browser App and select Safari. You can also open Settings → Apps → Safari and use Default Browser App there. If you delete the browser you had set as default, links go back to opening in Safari.

Browser App option missing? Check these

  • Update iOS. The Default Apps screen arrived in iOS 18.2. On iOS 18.0 or 18.1, use the per-app path above instead (Settings → Apps → the browser → Default Browser App). Apple suggests updating to the latest iOS to see Default Apps.
  • Install the browser first. The list only shows browsers that are on your iPhone.
  • Not every browser qualifies. An app has to meet Apple's browser requirements and be approved before it can appear in the list. If a browser you've installed doesn't show up, it may not support being the default. Apple's advice is to contact the app's developer.
  • Look in the right place. Default Apps sits at the top of Settings → Apps, above your app list, not in the main Settings screen.
  • Managed iPhones. A work or school phone managed by an organization may have some settings locked. Ask whoever manages the device.

Links still open in Safari or inside another app?

This is the most common complaint after switching. Your default browser handles regular web links that leave an app. It doesn't control everything:

  • In-app browsers. Many social, news and messaging apps open links inside their own built-in viewer, which looks like Safari but stays in the app. Check that app's settings for an option to open links in your default or an external browser. Some email apps have their own "open links in" setting too.
  • Links that open other apps. Some links are meant for a specific app, such as Maps, the App Store or an app you've installed. Those open in that app, not your browser.
  • Safari-specific actions. Safari bookmarks, Reading List and open Safari tabs still open in Safari, because they belong to Safari.
  • Double-check the setting. Open Settings → Apps → Default Apps → Browser App and make sure your browser still has the checkmark. If you deleted and reinstalled the browser, or restored your iPhone, set it again.
  • After an iOS update. If links start opening in Safari after an update, check the setting first. If it looks right, choose Safari, then choose your browser again to reset it, and restart the iPhone.

Should you change your default browser?

Safari is fast and well built into iOS, so there's nothing wrong with keeping it. People usually switch for one of three reasons: they want bookmarks and passwords synced with the same browser on their computer, they want built-in ad blocking without setting up extensions, or they want features Safari doesn't have.

If that's you, Kipzy can be set as your default browser too. It's free, needs no account, and blocks ads, trackers and pop-ups before they load, so every link you tap from Mail or Messages opens without the clutter. When a page has a video, a Save video button lets you keep it for offline viewing (only save videos you have the right to keep), and Kipzy AI can summarize a long page or answer questions about it when you tap it. To set it as your default, use the steps above and pick Kipzy, or tap Default browser in Kipzy's Settings.

If you're still deciding which browser to switch to, see our guide to the best browser for iPhone, or how to block ads on iPhone whichever browser you use.

Quick answers

Can I remove Safari from my iPhone?

You can remove the Safari icon from your Home Screen, but changing the default browser is what actually stops links from opening in it.

Does changing the default browser delete my Safari bookmarks or history?

No. Safari keeps everything. You can switch back at any time and it's all still there.

Can I set a different default browser for different apps?

No. iOS has one default browser for the whole phone. Some apps let you choose where their own links open in their settings, which works on top of the system default.

Does it change my search engine?

No. Your search engine is set inside each browser. For Safari, it's in Settings → Apps → Safari → Search Engine.

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