Default browser
The term "default browser" is used to describe the URL and file associations that determine which web browser is launched when you open an Internet shortcut or HTML file or when you click a link in a mail application like Thunderbird or Outlook Express. Note that MSN Messenger and other applications may be "hard-coded" to open Internet Explorer, no matter which browser is set as the default. Also, Internet service providers like PeoplePC Online, Juno and NetZero may provide connection software that automatically launches Internet Explorer.
All systems
You would normally set a default browser using the the options or preference settings within the web browser. For example,
- Firefox 2: "Tools -> Options -> Main / System Defaults -> (checkmark) Always check to see if Firefox is the default browser on startup -> Check Now"
- Firefox 1.5: " Tools -> Options -> General -> Default Browser -> Check Now"
- Mozilla Suite and SeaMonkey: "Edit -> Preferences -> Navigator -> Set Default Browser"
Make sure that only one browser is set to check if it is the default. If those settings don't work, try setting another browser as the default browser, then reset Firefox, Mozilla Suite or SeaMonkey as the default. Other suggestions are listed below.
Windows
Open Firefox and go to "Tools -> Options ->General -> Default Browser -> "Check Now" (or "Edit -> Preferences -> Navigator -> Set Default Browser" on Mozilla Suite/SeaMonkey). If that doesn't work, try the following:
If a test version of IE7 is installed
In some pre-release (testing) versions of Internet Explorer 7, hyperlinks in Outlook or Outlook Express mail messages do not to work unless IE7 is the default browser [1]. Uninstall the test version of IE7 (which restores IE6) or update IE7 to resolve the problem.
Force Firefox to make itself the default
If Firefox already thinks that it is default, exit Firefox completely, go to "Start Menu -> Run" and enter this into the text box:
firefox.exe -silent -nosplash -setDefaultBrowser
Setting default browser manually
Windows Vista: "Start -> Default Programs -> Set Program Access and Computer Defaults -> Custom" [2]
Windows 2000 and Windows XP: "Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Set Program Access and Defaults -> Custom" (available in Windows 2000 SP3 and later and Windows XP SP1 and later releases [3]).
After expanding the "Custom" category, you will see Internet Explorer and other installed browsers listed under "Choose a default Web browser". Select "Mozilla" (Suite), "SeaMonkey" or "Mozilla Firefox" (in some cases, "Mozilla Firefox" may not be listed; to add it back, reinstall Firefox [4]).
If the above doesn't work or if the "Set Program Access and Defaults" feature isn't available in your Windows version, you can manually set the default browser as follows, in Windows XP or earlier:
- In Windows XP using the Control Panel "Category View", click on "Performance and Maintenance". Then, click on "File Types" in the left column under the heading "See Also".
- In Windows Control Panel or if Windows XP is using the Control Panel "Classic View", click on "Folder Options -> File Types".
Assign the following file types to the browser you wish to set as default:
- URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol
- URL:HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy
- URL:File Transfer Protocol
- HTML File
- HTM File (optional)
Note that you may find the URL file types above under extension "N/A" or "(NONE)".
Using a third-party utility
A third-party utility to set the default browser will save you a lot of work by automating the steps for you. The freeware utilities DefaultBrowser and SetBrowser will work for Firefox and Mozilla Suite as well as other installed browsers.
Linux
Gnome
This may be slightly different, depending on which distribution you are using.
- Go to "Applications -> Desktop Preferences -> Advanced -> Preferred Applications".
- Select "Custom Web Browser", and type "firefox %s" in the box ("mozilla %s" for Mozilla). Note that a symlink of the "firefox" or the "mozilla" script must be placed in one of the default PATHs (for example, a symlink of the "firefox" script to "/usr/bin/" is common).
KDE
- Open kcontrol (KDE configuration center).
- Go to "Components -> Components chooser -> Web browser".
- Check "The following browser", and type in "firefox" ("mozilla" for Mozilla).
If you don't notice the "Web browser" component:
- Go to "Components -> File association -> text -> html".
- Select "Add..." under "Application Preference Order".
- Write the command firefox %U (mozilla %U for Mozilla) and select OK. You need "%U" so you can load URLs that are non-local files.
Distribution Specific
Fedora Core 3
If you want the URLs to open in a new tab instead of new window, you need to modify different script:
- Edit the /usr/bin/firefox or the /usr/bin/mozilla startup script.
- Search for a line containing "openURL".
- Replace
exec $MOZ_CLIENT_PROGRAM $MOZ_CLIENT_PROGRAM_PARAM "openurl($opt,new-window)" 2>/dev/null >/dev/null
with
exec $MOZ_CLIENT_PROGRAM $MOZ_CLIENT_PROGRAM_PARAM "openurl($opt,new-tab)" 2>/dev/null >/dev/null
Debian
If you want to make Mozilla Firefox your default browser, point the symlink /etc/alternatives/x-www-browser to /usr/bin/mozilla-firefox or other path where Mozilla Firefox is installed. One easy way to do this is to execute the following command as root:
update-alternatives --config x-www-browser
Doing so will present you with a list of installed browsers from which you can select Firefox.
Mac OS X
- Download Safari if you do not already have it.
- In Safari, choose "Preferences" from the menu.
- Click the "General" icon and choose your Mozilla browser from the default web browser pop-up menu. If you don't see it in the list, make sure it is in the "Applications" folder.
- If you don't want to use Safari, there's RCDefaultApp, a system preference panel which lets you set default browser, e-mail client, MIME types, and other options.
Related bug reports
- Bug 246078 – URLs from other apps result in two Firefox windows or a window and an error dialog (Set as Default Browser does a lousy job creating ddeexec keys)
- Bug 255255 - {Windows} reset IE to default browser upon uninstall of Firefox
- Bug 268512 - No .html icon for Firefox - only default application icon
- Bug 277733 - Seamonkey uninstaller changes default browser even if Seamonkey isn't the default browser at the time of uninstallation
- Bug 324023 - Command line method of setting the default browser
- Bug 352424 - Use the Vista Default Application API
- Bug 369314 - Trunk install takes over as default browser from a release build
See also
External links
- Hyperlinks in an e-mail message do not work in Office 2000 or in Office 2002 programs
- Hyperlinks open in Internet Explorer instead of in default browser or Help and Support Center (Windows XP and Windows XP SP1)
- Hyperlinks Open in Internet Explorer Instead of in the Default Browser (Windows 2000 SP3)
- Playing favorites: How to control which browser is 'Head Honcho' on your PC