Default Web browser
The default Web browser is the one that will open when you click on Web links in other applications, such as Apple Mail or Microsoft Outlook Express.
Mac OS 9 and later versions of Mac OS 8.6 come with the default Web browser set to Microsoft Internet Explorer. Mac OS X through version 10.2 also comes preset to use Internet Explorer. If you want to change the default browser, the following instructions should help.
Changing the default Web browser does not affect your ability to use any other browser; it merely directs links in other applications to the single browser of your choice. Examples of these links include:
- Links in non-browser programs, such as e-mail clients.
- Internet shortcuts in the Finder
Change the default Web browser in Mac OS X
The default browser in Mac OS X can be changed through the Internet pane of the System Preferences application.
- Open "System Preferences..." through the Apple menu.
- Click the "Internet" icon in the "Internet and Network" grouping.
- Click the "Web" tab.
- Click the popup menu next to "Default Web Browser."
- Select the browser you would like to use from the list of available browsers, or use "Select..." to pick a different browser.
- Quit System Preferences through the "System Preferences" menu. Your changes will be saved automatically.
Change the default Web browser in Mac OS 8.5 through 9
Use the Internet control panel to change the default web browser in Mac OS 8.6 - Mac OS 9.
- Open the "Internet" control panel through the "Control Panels" folder in the Apple menu. You will first see the contents of the "Personal" tab.
- Click the "Web" tab.
- Click the menu next to "Default Web Browser."
- Select the browser you would like to use, or use "Select..." to navigate to a different browser on your drive.
- Select "Quit" from the File menu.
Change the default Web browser in Mac OS 8.0 through 8.1
To change the default web browser in Mac OS 8 and Mac OS 8.1, you must use the "Internet Config" helper application.
- Open Internet Config. You may need to locate it with the "Find" command, which can be opened through the File menu in the Finder. When Internet Config is opened, you will see the "Internet Preferences" window.
- Click the "Helpers" button. You will see a list of helper applications.
- Double-click on the entry that begins with "http." The "Add Helper" window will open.
- Click the "Choose Helper..." button.
- Navigate to the web browser you would like to use. Both Internet Explorer and Netscape Communicator should be present inside the "Applications" folder of your hard drive.
- Click "Open" to choose the selected browser.
- Click "OK" to exit the Add Helper window.
- Repeat the process for the entry starting with "https" (HTTP Secure).
- Quit Internet Config by selecting "Quit" from the File menu.
- Click "Save"
