Love getting the hang of my new Ubuntu Linux laptop, but want to change the default browser from Firefox to Google Chrome. How do I do that most easily?
Congrats on jumping into the rough and ready world of Linux! Well, “rough and ready” might be an exaggeration at this point given how many years people have been working to improve the user experience, paying close attention to competing desktop platforms like Mac OS X and Windows 10!
In fact, there are now more similarities than differences, particularly with the default window manager in the latest Ubuntu Linux distributions. The confusion comes from where the buttons are and, in this particular instance, that default programs is most easily accessed directly from the About window, of all things.
Let me show you what I mean. Start by clicking on the gear icon in the top right of your Ubuntu Linux screen:
As highlighted, choose “About This Computer” (though you could also get there by winding through the System Settings… if you wanted. This is just easier).
You’ll learn about your system configuration and setup:
Yes, I’m running 15.10.
Now, on the left side, click on “Default Applications“.
There’s everything you’d want to tweak. Not too hard once you know where to look.
To change your default Web browser, just go ahead and click on the “Firefox Web Browser” option, as shown:
That’s it. Close the window and you’ve just changed your default Web browser in your Ubuntu Linux system from Firefox to Google Chrome.
Well done!