To change the default browser of Windows 11, first open the Settings app and enter the settings interface through "Apps > Default Apps"; secondly, select the target browser such as Chrome in the "Web Browser" option; then make sure that the browser is also actively set to default; if it still cannot be changed, advanced users can check account permissions or modify settings through command prompts and PowerShell.

The default browser changes in Windows 11 have changed a bit compared to previous versions, especially Microsoft has hidden the settings portal deeper. If you have just upgraded your system, or changed to a new computer, and find that the default browser is not your commonly used Chrome, Edge or Firefox, then this article can help you quickly.

Open the Settings app and enter the default app settings

The most direct way is to modify the default browser through "Settings". Press the Win I shortcut key to open the settings, then select "Apply" in the menu on the left, and then click "Default App".
Here you can see the default handlers for various file types and protocols. Scroll down, find the "Web Browser", click on it, and select the browser you want to set as the default from the list. For example, if you want to use Chrome, choose Google Chrome.
It should be noted that some browsers may need to install first and then appear in the options.

Make sure the browser itself has default permissions set

Sometimes even if you change the default browser in your system settings, the system will still prompt "Microsoft Edge is your default browser." This is because Windows 11 has a default priority for its own browser.
The solution is to actively apply to become the default in the browser of your choice. When opening the target browser (such as Chrome), a prompt will usually pop up when it is launched: "Do you set Chrome as the default browser?" and just click "Yes".
If it does not pop up automatically, you can manually enter the browser's settings page and click "Set as default" in the "Default Browser" section.

Check user account permissions and group policy settings (for advanced users)

If you have followed the above two steps but the default browser still cannot be changed, it may be that system permissions or group policy restrict this feature. This situation often occurs on company computers or school equipment.
You can confirm whether the currently logged in account has administrator rights in "Settings > Accounts > Home and Other Users". If conditions permit, you can also try running the command prompt (as administrator) to enter the following command:

• winget install --id=Google.Chrome (if Chrome is not installed)
• Or use PowerShell to modify the default application association:
  Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations" -Name "https" -Value "{chrome}"

Of course, this type of operation has certain risks, and ordinary users are not recommended to change the registry or group policies at will.

Basically that's it. Although the steps seem a bit tangled, each step is actually not complicated. It’s just that Windows 11 hides this common function quite deeply. Just operate it in sequence and you can successfully set the browser you are used to as default.

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