While Microsoft Edge is still the butt of some jokes, it's actually a solid browser, especially if you configure it correctly. That said, if you're using Windows 11, you shouldn't be forced to use it: as much as Microsoft wants you to surf the web with its apps, there are plenty of other great browsers to choose from.
Unfortunately, changing the default Web browser on Windows is not that simple, at least not out of the box. You might think it's as simple as clicking the "Default Browser" button that might pop up when installing a new browser, but that's often not the case. Instead of choosing a default browser application that opens every time you click a link, Windows wants you to set a default browser application for every link and file type you might click. If you need that level of granular control, you'll probably like this. If you're like the rest of us, it's a pain. Fortunately, once you know where to set your browser, it's easy to do with the push of a button.
How to change the default web browser in Windows 11
So let's say you've downloaded Chrome to your PC and are ready to make the switch. When you launch it, you may see an option to set Chrome as your default browser. By all means, click this button, but don't assume your settings will change. Instead, this button will direct you to Start > Settings > Apps > Default Apps". If you don't see the Default Browser button, you can go directly to this settings page.
On the Default Apps page, find the browser of your choice. Here you will find various options including HTM, HTML, PDF, SHTML, SVG, WEBP, XHT, XHTML, FTP, HTTP, and HTTPS, which are individual links and file types that you can bind to any browser of your choice. If you want, you can open HTML links in Chrome, HTM links in Edge, HTTP links in Firefox, and so on. However, for most of us, we want to open a browser every time we click on most links.
However, if your browser provides a "Set Defaults" button in the upper right corner of the page, you can ignore these link options. Clicking this button will automatically set itself as the default for the main links and file types, including HTM, HTML, HTTP, and HTTPS It may leave Edge as the default for some links and file types, including PDF and SVG, so if you prefer to use the browser in all cases, change these manually.
Some browsers (Firefox, for example) actually set these options automatically when you click the "Set as Default Browser" button the first time you launch the app. I don't know why Mozilla would take care of this for you and Chrome would send you to the settings page itself, but alas.
Now, even if you change these settings and set the new browser as the default, Windows may still insist that you use Edge, for example, when you click on a link you find when using the search bar in the Start menu. But there is a solution.
