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Learn how to make sure Firefox is the default browser if setting that option didn't work or it got changed by another program.

This article describes alternate ways of [[Make Firefox your default browser|setting Firefox as your default browser]] when using the [[T:optionsorpreferences]] panel does not work. Symptoms of this problem can include: * Firefox reports that it is not the default browser when you check using the Firefox [[T:optionsorpreferences]] panel. * Firefox prompts you to set Firefox as the default browser each time it starts. * Firefox does not open after clicking on links in other programs. {for win10,win11}{note}'''Note:''' Some links to Web content, such as Windows Search bar results and taskbar features that link to online news, weather, and other resources, use a protocol designed by Microsoft to always launch Microsoft Edge, even though Firefox is your default browser.<!-- https://textslashplain.com/2022/07/18/edge-url-schemes/ https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1726697 -->{/note}{/for} __TOC__ = Using Firefox = The preferred method of setting Firefox as your default browser is described in the [[Make Firefox your default browser]] article. Most external programs will open links in Firefox if it is set to be the default browser using that method. Follow the instructions below if you have tried the steps in the [[Make Firefox your default browser]] article and found that they did not work. = Using your operating system = {for win} {for win11} == Windows 11 == <!-- based on https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-change-your-default-browser-firefox-windows#w_manually-change-your-default-browser-to-firefox-in-windows-settings-windows-11 --> #Click the Windows Start button. #Type "Default apps" and select {menu Default apps}. #Select '''Firefox''' from the list. #Under '''Set default file types or link types''', find the '''Make Firefox your default browser''' prompt at the top of the window and click {menu Set default}. {/for} {for win10} == Windows 10 == # Go to the Windows '''Start''' menu and click the '''Settings''' icon. # Click '''Apps''', then choose '''Default Apps''' on the left pane. # Scroll down and click the entry under ''Web browser''. #;[[Image:default apps win10]] # Click on '''Firefox''' in the dialog that opens with a list of available browsers. #;[[Image:firefox default 10]] # Firefox is now listed as your default browser. Close the Settings window to save your changes. {/for} {for win8} ==Windows 8== # Open the '''PC Settings''' application (press and release the Windows Start button, then click the gear icon). # Select {menu Search and apps} from the sidebar. # Select {menu Defaults} from the sidebar. # In the ''Set Default Programs'' window, select {menu Firefox} from the list of programs on the left and click {button Set this program as default}. Then click {button OK} to close the window. #;[[Image:Default - Win8 pt 2]] {/for} {for win7} == Windows 7 and Vista == # Click on the Windows logo to open the Start menu, then select '''Control Panel'''. The ''Control Panel'' window will open. # Click on the link labeled '''Programs'''. The ''Programs'' panel will open.<br><br>[[Image:113f7b1b820e1b71faeb5aa77e042443-1259804950-833-1.png]]<br> # Click on the link labeled '''Set your default programs'''. The ''Set your default programs'' panel will open.<br><br>[[Image:113f7b1b820e1b71faeb5aa77e042443-1259801252-815-1.png]]<br> # In the programs list on the left side of the window, click '''Firefox'''. # In the right side of the window, click '''Set this program as default'''.<br><br>[[Image:113f7b1b820e1b71faeb5aa77e042443-1259530556-775-4.png]]<br> {/for} {for winxp} == Windows XP == # Click the '''Start''' button, then click on the '''Control Panel''' icon to open the ''Windows Control Panel''. # Click the '''Add or Remove Programs''' icon to open the ''Add or Remove Programs'' applet. # On the left side of the window, click the '''Set Program Access and Defaults''' icon. # Click on the '''Custom''' radio button to expand the Custom category. # Underneath '''Choose a default Web browser''' click the radio button next to '''Mozilla Firefox'''. <br><br>[[Image:113f7b1b820e1b71faeb5aa77e042443-1259802070-748-1.png]]<br> # Click {button OK} at the bottom of the window. {/for} {note}<!-- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1166218 -->'''Note:''' If Firefox is not listed as a program choice, [[Uninstall Firefox from your computer|uninstall Firefox from your computer]] (the uninstaller does not remove any user data such as history or bookmarks) and then [[How to install Firefox on Windows|reinstall Firefox]] to see if that registers your Firefox web browser.{/note} {/for} {for linux} == Ubuntu Linux == # In the {menu System} menu, open {menu Preferences}, then {menu Preferred Applications}. # On the {menu Internet} tab under ''Web Browser'', choose '''Firefox''' in the drop-down. # Press {button Close}. == Mandriva Linux + KDE 4 == # In the {menu KDE Systemsettings}, go to the {menu Advanced} tab, then to the {menu File associations} icon. # Click on the {menu html} tab under {menu text}, choose '''Firefox''' in the menu, rise it to the top of the list. # Press {button Apply}. == Fedora Linux + KDE 4 == # In the {menu Applications} menu, open the {menu System Setting} tab, then go to the {menu Default Applications} icon. # Click on the {menu Web Browser} line on the list of displayed services and type '''firefox''' in the {menu Default Component} menu. # Press {button Apply}. {/for} {for mac} Use one of these methods to set Firefox as the default browser on your Mac: == From the Apple menu == <!-- from https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201607 --> # Choose {menu System Preferences} from the ''Apple'' menu. # Click {button General}. # Choose '''Firefox''' from the ''Default web browser'' drop-down menu. == From Safari == # From the Dock, open '''Safari'''. # From the menu bar, click the {menu Safari} menu and select {menu Preferences…}. # Click the {menu General} icon, to display the ''General'' preferences panel. # In the ''Default web browser:'' drop-down list, select '''Firefox'''.<br><br>[[Image:113f7b1b820e1b71faeb5aa77e042443-1259803440-200-1.jpg]]<br> # Quit Safari. {/for} {for win} = Problems with specific programs = Some programs may have features that open another browser to display content, even though Firefox is set as the default browser. For example: <!-- https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1205292 https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/questions/1159129 https://www.outlook-tips.net/tips/view-email-browser/--> * Microsoft Outlook has a ''View in Browser'' feature that will open a browser window to display the content of an HTML email message. Outlook converts the message content to [https://wikipedia.org/wiki/MHTML MHTML] (MHT) format and then opens the program associated with that file type, normally {for not win11}Internet Explorer or {/for}Microsoft Edge. {/for}