How to Change the Default Browser on a Mac

In Mac OS 8.5 and higher, a couple of clicks can change your default browser, getting you on the Internet with Explorer one day and Communicator another day.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Internet Explorer
• Mac OS 9.0
• Netscape Communicator
• Internet Explorer

1. Click on the Apple menu and select Control Panels.

2. Select the Control Panel called Internet. The windows will show four tabs: Personal, E-mail, Web, News.

3. Select the Web tab.

4. Scroll to your preferred Web browser: America Online, Microsoft Internet Explorer, or Netscape Communicator. These should all be listed, but you can also click on Select to choose a browser not listed.

5. Click the close box to exit the control panel.

Tips & Warnings

• You can set the default browser in some browser programs as well - changes are made to the same Settings file, whether you alter your preferences in your browser or in the control panel.
• Under the Web tab you can also select your default Home Page, Search Page and Download Folder, plus you can designate a unique color for Unread Links (URLs you haven't visited), Read Links (URLs you have visited), and choose whether or not links should appear on your screen underlined.