Apple hasn't historically been all that keen on its customers using third party apps as defaults for anything. Instead, it prefers you to use its own pre-installed apps for things like email and web browsing. But with iOS 14, that changed.

If you're running iOS 14 or iOS 15 on your device you can actually switch Safari for Chrome as your default web browser. Times - as the great Bob Dylan once sang - they are a-changing. 

How to set Chrome as default

Your first step is to download the latest version of Chrome for iOS from the App Store. If you have the app installed already, check for updates.

How to set Chrome as your default browser in iOS 14 photo 2
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Chances are, however, if you don't have the updated version, that it'll detect that immediately and give you the option to update.

Once downloaded, follow the steps below to set it as your default browsing app. 

  • Update Chrome to the latest version
  • Go to Settings on your iPhone
  • Scroll down until you find Chrome
  • Tap on 'Default Browser' 
  • Choose 'Chrome' 

Once Chrome is updated, open up your iPhone's main settings menu and scroll all the way down until you find the apps list at the bottom. Find Chrome, and this is where you'll find the default browser option. 

Once you've done that, whenever you click on a link that's shared with you, it'll automatically open Chrome as the preferred web browser. 

It's worth noting that the first time you try it, it'll ask you for permission to open Chrome before it then opens the link for you. 

So there you have it, a quick and easy change that means you can use your favourite browser as default from now on.