This post shows students and new users steps to install and make Firefox their default web browser on Windows 11. Mozilla Firefox used to be the favorite web browser for almost half the users around the world. Now, there are still few who would rather use Firefox than Chrome or Edge.
Firefox is a privacy focus web browser that uses Gecko rendering engine to display web pages instead of Chromium which is used by Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge.
The default web browser in Windows 11 is the new Microsoft Edge browser. Most people might not realize that the new Edge is better and more useful than the old one, and may not be opened to using it, and instead are switching to Firefox make it their default browser.
If you’re a student or new user looking for a Windows computer to use, the easiest place to start is Windows 11. Windows 11 is a major release of the Windows NT operating system developed by Microsoft. Windows 11 is the successor to Windows 10 and was released on October 5, 2021.
Set Firefox as default web browser on Windows 11
By default, the new Microsoft Edge is the default browser in Windows 11. To configure Firefox as default and always use it as your preferred browser, follow the steps below.
This post assumes that Firefox is already installed on your computer. If not, go and download Firefox using the link below.
Download Firefox Browser — Fast, Private & Free
Once downloaded, install it and continue below to make it your default web browser on Windows 11.
Windows 11 has a centralized location for majority of its settings. From system configurations to creating new users and updating Windows, all can be done from its System Settings pane.
To get to System Settings, you can use the Windows key + i shortcut or click on Start ==> Settings as shown in the image below:
Alternatively, you can use the search box on the taskbar and search for Settings. Then select to open it.
Windows Settings pane should look similar to the image below. In Windows Settings, click Apps, select Default apps on the right pane of your screen shown in the image below.
When Default apps settings opens, use the search box and type Edge to search for the default app for applications.
Microsoft Edge will appear in the result below. Click on Microsoft Edge.
The next page will list all the default file types and link types that Edge is the default for. Simply select each types and switch from Edge to Firefox.
When you select Microsoft Edge, a pop out window will prompt you to check out Edge before switching. If you still want to switch, click Switch anyway.
For each file type, choose Firefox to be the default, then click OK to confirm and switch.
Sometime, when you select a file extension, you won’t see Firefox right away to switch to. Click on the More app link to show hidden Firefox.
When you’re done, each file type should be switched to Firefox.
That should be it! Firefox should now be the default web browser for Windows 11.
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to set Firefox as the default web browser in Windows 11. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below to report.
