How to Change Your Default Browser on iPhone
Set a different default browser on iPhone or iPad in four steps, plus what changes, what doesn't, and why the setting sometimes fails to appear.
Updated August 2026
Quick answer
Open Settings, scroll to the browser you want, tap it, choose Default Browser App, and select it from the list. Links from Mail, Messages, and other apps then open there. Two things do not change: in-app browsers still render inside their own apps, and Siri may still use Safari for some results.
Setting the default
- 1
Install the browser first
It cannot appear as an option until it is on the device.
- 2
Open Settings and find the browser in the app list
Scroll down past the system settings to the alphabetical list of installed apps — for Avodek, Settings › Avodek.
- 3
Tap Default Browser App
This entry only appears for apps that register as browsers.
- 4
Select the browser
The change takes effect immediately; there is nothing to confirm and no restart needed.
If Default Browser App is missing, the usual cause is an iOS version older than 14, or the app having been installed moments ago — the entry can take a few seconds to register. Reopening Settings normally resolves it.
What changes, and what doesn't
| Where you tap a link | Opens in your default browser? |
|---|---|
| Yes | |
| Messages | Yes |
| Notes, Calendar, and most apps | Yes |
| Inside a social app's built-in browser | No — the app renders it internally |
| Some Siri and Spotlight results | Not always — Safari may still be used |
The in-app browser exception catches most people out. Apps like Instagram and X open links in their own embedded view; that is their choice, not a device setting, and it is unaffected by your default.
Getting around in-app browsers
When a link opens inside another app's browser, most of those views offer a share or “open in” control — usually an ellipsis or a share icon — that hands the page to your real default. Some apps also have a setting to use the system browser by default; it is worth looking, because in-app browsers are the one place your tracker blocking and safety checks do not apply.
Common questions
Why doesn't “Default Browser App” appear in Settings?
Either the app does not register as a browser, the device is on iOS 13 or earlier, or the app was only just installed and the entry has not registered yet — reopening Settings usually fixes the last case.
Do my bookmarks and passwords come across?
Passwords do, if you use iCloud Keychain — it is shared across browsers. Bookmarks do not transfer automatically; most browsers offer an import, and it is worth doing before you switch rather than after.
Does changing the default affect Safari?
No. Safari stays installed and works normally when opened directly. The setting only decides where links from other apps go.
Can I change it back?
Yes, the same way, at any time. Nothing is migrated or deleted when you switch, so it is a reversible experiment rather than a commitment.
Related guides
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