I’ve been using Ubuntu for a while now, and I’ve really enjoyed the overall experience. However, there’s one little thing that’s been bugging me lately. So, I usually flip between several browsers for different tasks, but I really love using Google Chrome for most of my browsing. I mean, it’s got the extensions I need, the speed is amazing, and I just find it a bit more user-friendly compared to the others.
The thing is, I can’t seem to figure out how to make Google Chrome my default web browser on Ubuntu. Every time I click on a link from an email or a document, it opens in Firefox, which honestly drives me a little nuts. I did some digging online, and I found a bunch of solutions, but they seem to vary a lot depending on the version of Ubuntu or the desktop environment I’m using.
Do I have to mess around with the settings in the system? Or is there some hidden command I need to run in the terminal? I mean, I usually know my way around the basics, but the thought of terminal commands sometimes makes me nervous.
I also heard that after you set it as the default, sometimes it reverts back to Firefox after updates or restarts. Is that a common issue? And if so, how can I ensure it stays set to Chrome?
I really appreciate any help you can provide. If you’ve got some step-by-step tips or even just a link to a good resource that can help me out, that would be awesome. Honestly, I just want to click a link and have it open right in Chrome without thinking about it! Thanks!
To set Google Chrome as your default web browser in Ubuntu, you’ll want to access the system settings. Start by navigating to ‘Settings’ from your application menu. In the settings window, select ‘Default Applications’ from the sidebar. You should see an option labeled ‘Web’. Click on the dropdown menu next to ‘Web’ and select Google Chrome from the list. This will set Chrome as your default browser for opening links from emails or other applications. If you’re using a different desktop environment, the process may vary slightly—however, you can usually find similar settings in the system settings or control center of your environment.
If you find that your settings revert to Firefox after system updates or restarts, it may be due to certain configurations in your desktop environment. Some distributions or desktop environments can reset defaults after updates. To help mitigate this issue, you can run the following command in the terminal:
xdg-settings set default-web-browser google-chrome.desktop. This sets Chrome as the default web browser for xdg (the default program launcher). Additionally, consider creating a bash script to run this command after every major update, ensuring that Chrome remains your default. For further reading, you may refer to the official Ubuntu documentation or forums for troubleshooting any specific issues you encounter.How to Set Google Chrome as Your Default Browser on Ubuntu
If you’re tired of Firefox opening instead of Google Chrome when you click links, you can easily make Chrome your default browser. Here’s a simple guide to help you out:
Method 1: Using System Settings
Method 2: Using Terminal Command
If you prefer using the terminal (don’t worry, it’s not too scary!), you can run this command:
Checking if It Stays Set
Sometimes, it might revert back to Firefox after updates or restarts. To make sure it stays set to Chrome, you could try:
Also, remind yourself to check your system’s updates occasionally, as some major updates can reset defaults. Keeping an eye on this should help!
Conclusion
Once you’ve set Google Chrome as your default browser, clicking links should get you there without any hassle! Hope this helps, and happy browsing!