How to set Safari as your default browser

Updated at: Jul 4, 2024

To set Safari as the default web browser on your computer, you need to use the macOS System Preferences.

Click the Apple Menu icon

In the top-left corner of your Mac screen, click the small Apple icon. It will expand a list of System options.
Click the "System Preferences" item

One of the menu items is "System Preferences", click it to be able to configure your system.
Click the "General" item

The System Preferences window has lots of options; find the General item and click it to open your system's general options.
Your default web browser

On the General System Preferences window you will see the option labelled Default web browser:

If you are trying to set Safari as your default web browser, it means you probably have something else currently set as your default (such as Google Chrome - in the example screenshot above).
Choose Safari from the list

Click on the Select list to show all the web browsers you have installed; from there you will see Safari. To set Safari as your default web browser, simply choose it from the list.

You will now see that macOS has it set as your default web browser for this computer:

Any time you click a link in your email program, word processor, or anything else, Safari will now be used to open the link.
Close the Preferences window

Now that you have selected your default browser you can close the System Prefernces window and continue using your computer.