Make Firefox your default browser

If you have multiple browsers installed on your device, links you click in other applications (such as Web links in Thunderbird) will automatically open in your default browser. Making Mozilla Firefox your default browser will help you make the most out of your online experience. This article shows you how to make Firefox your default browser.

How to set Firefox as your default browser

  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
    Firefox preferences
  2. In the General panel, click the Make Default… button.
    Note: If Firefox is already your default browser, the button will be missing and you will see the message, "Firefox is currently your default browser".
    General preferences - default browser
  3. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. At the top of the General panel, click the Make Default… button.
    Note: If Firefox is already your default browser, the button will be missing and you will see the message, "Firefox is currently your default browser".
    Fx94MakeDefault
  3. The Set Default Programs window will open.
  4. In the Set Default Programs window select Firefox from the list of programs on the left and click Set this program as default. Then click OK to close the window.
    Default - Win8 pt 2
  5. Close the Settings page. Any changes you've made will automatically be saved.
  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. At the top of the General panel, click the Make Default… button.
    Note: If Firefox is already your default browser, the button will be missing and you will see the message, "Firefox is currently your default browser".
    Fx94MakeDefault
    • Firefox will now be set as your default browser.

If Firefox was unable to make itself the default browser, it will open the Windows Settings Default apps panel (shown below), where you can click the entry under Web browser to choose Firefox as the default. For additional information, see How to change your default browser to Firefox on Windows.

Use the Settings app in Windows 10 to change your default browser

Alternatively, you can open the Settings App from the Windows Start menu to set Firefox as the default browser:

  1. Go to the Windows Start menu and click the Settings icon.
  2. Click Apps, then choose Default Apps on the left.
  3. Scroll down and click the entry under Web browser.
    default apps win10
  4. Click on Firefox in the dialog that opens with a list of available browsers.
    firefox default 10
  5. Firefox is now set as your default browser. Close the Settings window to save your changes.
  1. In the Menu bar at the top of the screen, click Firefox and then select Preferences or Settings, depending on your macOS version.Click the menu button Fx89menuButton and select Settings.
  2. At the top of the General panel, click the Make Default… button.
    Note: If Firefox is already your default browser, the button will be missing and you will see the message, "Firefox is currently your default browser".
    Fx94MakeDefault
  3. Firefox will now be set as your default browser.

If Firefox still isn't the default, see How to change your default browser to Firefox on Windows for steps to manually change your default browser to Firefox.

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