Microsoft Edge is an integral a part of Windows and subsequently initially this system of alternative for browsing the web. However, many customers are unfamiliar with the Microsoft browser as a result of they like the person expertise of Google Chrome or Firefox.

Switching is all the better as there are a number of equally good options. Like Edge, the market chief Google Chrome relies on the open supply Chromium mission. Chrome is comparable when it comes to performance, however provides a extra clearly structured person interface. Mozilla Firefox, then again, is itself open supply, and a big group supplies the browser with many extensions.

There are additionally different browsers reminiscent of Opera and Vivaldi, that are additionally based mostly on the Chromium mission.

How to alter the default browser

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The default setting for Edge as the usual browser may be simply modified. Open the Settings app and click on on Apps > Default apps. Scroll right down to “Web browsers” on the right-hand aspect, click on on “Microsoft Edge” after which click on on the internet program of your alternative within the following checklist of put in browsers.

In Windows 11, additionally open Settings, go to Apps > Default apps and click on on “Firefox” or “Google Chrome,” relying in your choice. In the next window, click on on the “Set as default” button subsequent to “Make Firefox as your default browser” or “Make Google Chrome as your default browser.”

Alternatively, you may also make the change within the browser: In Firefox, name up the menu within the prime right-hand nook utilizing the three horizontal strains, go to “Settings” and click on on “Make default” within the “General” tab. With the choice “Always check whether Firefox is the default browser,” you possibly can management whether or not Firefox at all times asks whether or not you wish to make it the principle browser.

In Google Chrome, click on on the three dots on the prime proper, then on Settings > Default browser > Set as default. Chrome now opens the “Properties” of Windows with the checklist of “Default apps,” the place you possibly can change the browser as described.

Change file and protocol project

Even when you have already modified the setting for the default browser in Windows to Firefox or Chrome, clicking on some file codecs used on the web, reminiscent of SHTML or the WEBP graphics format, nonetheless opens the Edge browser. You may have to alter such file associations individually; there are important variations between Windows 10 and 11.

In Windows 10, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and scroll to the underside of the right-hand aspect of the window. There you’ll find the 2 hyperlinks “Select default apps by file type” and “Select default apps by protocol,” which result in the lists “Assign file types to specific apps” and “Select default apps by protocol” respectively.

Scroll right down to the file sort or protocol you might be in search of, click on on the related program and choose a program. With “Search for an app in the Microsoft Store” you possibly can set up further functions for this format.

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In many instances, the project of file sorts is clearer by way of the “Set default settings by app” hyperlink. To change, choose “Google Chrome” or “Firefox” within the checklist, click on on “Manage” and change to Chrome or Firefox for all file codecs that also have “Microsoft Edge” subsequent to them.

In Windows 11, Microsoft has made it a lot simpler to alter the project: Under Settings > Apps > Default apps, you possibly can seek for a particular file or hyperlink sort on the prime. Once you’ve gotten scrolled all the best way down, you’ll find the entire lists by way of “Select default values by file type” and “Select default values by link type.”

Then click on on the kind you might be in search of and choose a program to open within the “Suggested apps” and “More options” sections. You can use “Search apps in the Microsoft Store” and “Select an app on your PC” to specify functions that Windows has not included in its strategies.

To hyperlink all file codecs with Chrome or Firefox, proceed as follows for PDF information, for instance: Settings > Apps > Default apps > Google Chrome (or Firefox) > .pdf > Google Chrome (or Firefox). Repeat this for all desired file and hyperlink codecs.

Import and handle favorites

In Chrome and Firefox they’re known as “Bookmarks,” in Edge “Favorites”: Each browser saves tackle collections as HTML information and might switch and import them from different packages.

To change from Edge to Chrome, you should first save the favorites in an HTML file. To do that, click on on the browser’s three-dot menu on the prime proper and go to “Favorites.” Click on the three dots once more within the prime right-hand nook of the next menu, observe More choices > Export favorites and save the hyperlinks in an HTML file in any folder.

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To import them into Chrome, open the three-dot menu within the prime right-hand nook of the Google browser and choose Bookmarks > Bookmark Manager. You will now see one other three-dot button “Organize,” which you click on on and choose the beforehand created HTML file by way of “Import bookmarks.”

Firefox imports the Edge favorites immediately with out the diversions by way of the HTML file. To do that, click on on the three-dash menu on the prime proper and go to Bookmarks > Manage bookmarks. Now click on on Import and save > Import information from one other browser, choose “Microsoft Edge” from the drop-down menu and click on on “Import.”

Firefox now imports not solely the favorites, but additionally the saved login information and passwords, the historical past for the final 180 days, and the info for the Microsoft browser’s type autocomplete.

Change the default search engine

In the Edge browser, Microsoft’s personal Bing is ready because the default search engine when looking by way of the tackle bar. Chrome naturally makes use of Google, Firefox works with the Google search service. You can simply change this setting and change to a search engine reminiscent of Duckduckgo, which collects much less person info.

In Chrome, go to Settings and click on on “Search engine.” There you will notice a drop-down menu providing a choice of various search companies. In Firefox, you’ll find the identical possibility beneath Settings > Search. To change the default setting, go to “Privacy, search and services” within the Settings, then scroll all the best way down and click on on “Address bar and search.” Here, set the specified service subsequent to “Search engine used in address bar.”

If you can not discover it right here, click on on “Manage search engines” and both choose a service from the checklist by clicking on the three dots on the right-hand aspect and choosing “Set as default.” Or click on the “Add” button and add one other service to the checklist.

Manage bookmarks for a number of browsers

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Edge, Chrome, and Firefox can help you synchronize bookmarks, passwords, and different information with different computer systems. This additionally works throughout working system boundaries with variations for Android or Mac OS. Data is transferred by way of the suppliers’ cloud companies.

If you utilize completely different browsers in your units, uniform administration of bookmarks and favorites is rather more troublesome. Although all three browsers assist the HTML format for saving hyperlinks, there is no such thing as a automated synchronization with rivals’ merchandise. However, there are instruments that take over this process.

There is a free model of Raindrop.io. Compared to the paid model for round $28 per yr, you solely need to do with out some superior capabilities reminiscent of a full-text search or the cloud backup of bookmarks. After putting in the Windows app, which can be distributed by way of the Microsoft Store, you register and add your bookmarks as HTML information to the Raindrop.io cloud service.

You can use the app to type the hyperlinks and see a preview of the linked web page. You safe entry with a person identify and password. You then arrange the extension in every browser you utilize to entry the cloud information.

Apps can be found for Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, and Linux; extensions can be found for Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, and Safari. See additionally: https://raindrop.io/download.

This article, which initially appeared on PCWelt, was translated from German to English.