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Waterfox

Make Waterfox your default browser on Windows

You can set Waterfox as your default browser on Windows 10 and Windows 11. This ensures links you open from other apps and most web-related file types open in Waterfox.

Set Waterfox as default from Waterfox Settings

Section titled “Set Waterfox as default from Waterfox Settings”
  1. Click the menu button menu button and select Settings.
  2. In the General panel, scroll to the Startup section.
  3. If you see “Waterfox is not your default browser,” click Make Default.
    • Windows will open its Default apps settings so you can confirm Waterfox as the default (see below for Windows 10/11 details).

Set Waterfox as default in Windows Settings

Section titled “Set Waterfox as default in Windows Settings”

Windows 10

Section titled “Windows 10”
  1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.
  2. Go to Apps > Default apps.
  3. Under Web browser, click the current browser and choose Waterfox.

Tip: If you still see some types of links opening in another browser, in Default apps:

  • Click Choose default apps by protocol and set HTTP and HTTPS to Waterfox.
  • Click Choose default apps by file type and set .htm and .html to Waterfox.

Windows 11 (22H2 or later)

Section titled “Windows 11 (22H2 or later)”
  1. Open the Start menu and select Settings.
  2. Go to Apps > Default apps.
  3. In the search box, type “Waterfox” and select Waterfox.
  4. If a Set default button appears at the top, click it to make Waterfox the default for common web link types and file types.
  5. If Set default is not shown (or some types remain unassigned), scroll the list and set these to Waterfox:
    • Link types (Protocols): HTTP, HTTPS.
    • File types: .htm, .html.

Windows 11 (initial release/older builds)

Section titled “Windows 11 (initial release/older builds)”

If the Set default button isn’t available:

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Search for “Waterfox” and select it.
  3. Click each of the following and choose Waterfox:
    • HTTP, HTTPS (Protocols)
    • .htm, .html (File types)

Optional: Pin Waterfox to the taskbar

Section titled “Optional: Pin Waterfox to the taskbar”
  1. Open Waterfox.
  2. Right-click the Waterfox icon on the taskbar.
  3. Click Pin to taskbar.

Troubleshooting

Section titled “Troubleshooting”
  • If another app changes your default browser, repeat the steps above to reassign Waterfox.
  • If some links still open in another browser, confirm the HTTP and HTTPS protocols and the .htm/.html file types are assigned to Waterfox in Windows Default apps.