How to Make Safari Your Default Browser

If you have multiple Web browsers installed on your computer, you will need to specify which one you want to use as your default Web browser. Since Safari is Apple's newest and most sophisticated Web browser, Macintosh users will often choose to download Safari and make it their default Web browser. Choosing Safari as your default Web browser will make it so that Safari is the first program that opens every time you access the Web. There are two ways in which to set up Safari as your default browser. You can either change it through your computer's 'Preferences' window, or directly within Safari itself.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Macintosh computer running OS X or greater
• Internet Access

Download Safari

1. Go to Apple's main Web site (see Resources below).
2. Click on the heading 'Support' and choose 'Downloads' from the list of sub-headings.
3. Type 'Safari' into the search box and look for the link that says 'Download Safari.' Click on the link.
4. Download Safari onto your desktop and install the software on your computer.
5. Restart your computer after Safari has finished installing.

Change Your Default Browser on Your Computer

6. Choose 'System Preferences' from the Apple pull down menu on your desktop.
7. Click on 'Internet' under the 'Internet and Network' section.
8. Choose the option 'Web' from the list of headings.
9. Choose Safari from the list of available Web browsers in the pull down menu.
10. Close the 'System Preferences' window and restart your computer.

Change Your Default Browser Within Safari

11. Open up the Safari Web browser.
12. Choose 'Preferences' from the Safari pull down menu.
13. Click on the heading 'General.'
14. Choose Safari from the pull down list of available Web browsers next to where it says 'Default Web Browser.'
15. Close the Safari 'Preferences' window and restart your computer.

Tips & Warnings

• Once you have set up Safari as your default Web browser, you can customize its settings in the Safari 'Preferences' window.
• Make sure that you are downloading a version of Safari that your operating system can support. For Safari 2.0 you will need a computer running OS 10.4.
• Check the download page on Apple's Web site for Safari software updates.
• The latest version of Safari offers advanced Parental Controls for protecting your child's security while online.
• Call Apple technical support at 1-800-275-2273 for additional help using Safari.
• Just because your are using Safari as your default Web browser doesn't mean that you should delete your other browsers. Certain programs work better with other browsers, so it doesn't hurt to keep them around in case you need to use them.
• When downloading Safari, make sure that you are downloading the full software and not just a Safari 'Update'.
• This guide was written for Safari 2.0, although it may be applicable to earlier versions.