Tip: Choose a New Default Browser in iOS 14
- Paul Thurrott
- Sep 11, 2020
-
20
Apple hasn’t yet publicly released iOS 14, but when it does, you’ll finally be able to choose another browser as your default, instead of being forced to use Safari. Here’s how.
(Yes, this tip applies to iPadOS 14 as well.)
Apple being Apple, this isn’t done in a logical way. There’s no Default Apps interface in the Settings app in iOS. Instead, you must first install a compatible browser app and then make the change from that app’s settings interface.
Today, the only app that supports this change is Google Chrome. I don’t normally recommend that anyone use Chrome of course, so I’m using it here for demonstration purposes only. When Microsoft updates Edge to be compatible with this interface, I will switch to that browser.
OK, once the browser is installed, open the Settings app and scroll down to the bottom, where you’ll find the third-party apps listed alphabetically under the section with Apple’s apps.
Select Chrome (or another browser).
Then, select Default Browser App. It will be set to Safari by default.
Select Chrome. Then, exit Settings or back out of this interface.
From now on, when you select a browser link in any application in iOS, your preferred browser will open instead of Safari.