When Apple released iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, it made a change that enables third-party browsers to be used as default apps, meaning users who don't get on with Apple's native Safari browser can choose an alternative and it will be opened automatically whenever the system requires it.

ios14 and default ddgo feature 2
Many third-party browsers now support the ability to become the default app, including Chrome, Firefox, and DuckDuckGo, so now you can choose your preferred browser and it will be used to automatically open web page links that are tapped in other apps. Here's how to set the default web browser in iOS 14.

  1. Launch the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad.
  2. Scroll down to the third-party apps list and tap the browser you wish to use (e.g. DuckDuckGo).
  3. Tap Default Browser App.
  4. Tap the browser that you wish to make the default.

settings
After you've completed these steps, any app that tries to open a web page will launch your preferred browser instead of Safari. To change this behavior, simply repeat the steps and select Safari in the Default Browser Apps screen.

Related Stories

How to Check iCloud Keychain Password Security

Using iCloud Keychain, Apple's Safari browser stores and syncs all the passwords you use for different websites and apps through iCloud. And in iOS 14 and later, Apple provides security recommendations that warn you if a password you're using is putting your accounts at risk. Safari securely monitors your saved passwords using strong cryptographic techniques, and regularly checks derivations ...

How to Reinstall Deleted Apps on iPhone and iPad

Thursday April 8, 2021 4:29 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

If you've deleted an app on your iPhone and iPad to save space or because you didn't find the app useful at the time, it's not a one-way street – you can always re-install said app on your device in a few short steps. While there's no section in iOS that exclusively lists "recently deleted" apps as such, you can still find the apps that you've purchased in the past but are no longer...

How to Enable Live Captions in Chrome Browser for Desktop

Thursday March 18, 2021 5:39 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Google includes a Live Captions transcription feature in version 89 of its Chrome browser for desktop. Live Captions uses machine learning to create a real-time transcription for videos or audio played through the browser, which can make online media more accessible for members of the Deaf community and other people with hearing loss. Once enabled, Live Captions appear in a box in the bottom ...

Chrome 90: How to Link Directly to Specific Text on a Webpage

Monday April 19, 2021 2:56 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

With the release of Chrome 90, Google is rolling out a new browser feature that lets you create a shareable link to a section of text you've highlighted on a webpage. Here's how to use it. Sometimes when you share a webpage link with someone, you just want to bring their attention to a specific passage or sentence to make your point, rather than have them read through the entire article. ...

How to Pair a PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X Controller With iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV

With the release of iOS 14.5 and tvOS 14.5, Apple users can now connect their PS5 DualSense and Xbox Series X controllers to an iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV. Keep reading to learn how it works. Since iOS 13 and tvOS 13, users have been able to connect popular console controllers to an iPhone or Apple TV to play Apple Arcade games and other iOS games, instead of having to spend extra money on...

How to Delete Cookies in Safari

Tuesday March 23, 2021 5:30 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

When you browse the web on your devices, websites will often leave cookies on your system so that they can remember you and what your preferences are. Some cookies are genuinely useful, as they allow sites to save your personal information (such as your login credentials) so that you don't have to keep entering it every time you visit. However, for the same reason, cookies can pose a...

iOS 14.5: How to Change Siri's Voice

Thursday April 29, 2021 11:27 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

In iOS 14.5, Apple introduced two new Siri voices that are available in English, and also added a setup selection option that lets new users choose their preferred ‌Siri‌ voice rather than defaulting to a female voice in the United States. The new voices, which Apple says add more diversity in speech sound and pattern, run voice recordings through Apple's Neural Engine to make them flow...

iOS 14: How to Set Google Chrome as the Default Browser on iPhone and iPad

Friday September 11, 2020 6:43 am PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple made a change in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 that enables third-party browsers and email clients to be used as default apps, meaning users who don't get on with Safari or Apple's native Mail app can choose an alternative and it will be opened automatically whenever the system requires it. The latest version of Google Chrome now supports this ability, so anyone on iOS 14 can set Google's app...

How to Clear Safari's Cache

Tuesday March 23, 2021 5:32 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

Whenever you browse the web in Safari, the browser stores website data so that it doesn't have to download it again each time you revisit a site. In theory this should speed up your browsing experience, but there are some scenarios where you might want to clear the cache and start anew. Keep reading to learn how it's done on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. There are a couple of situations where you...

iOS 14.5: How to Set a Preferred Music Streaming Service With Siri

Monday April 26, 2021 4:32 pm PDT by Tim Hardwick

With the release of iOS 14.5, Apple introduced a feature that lets users select a specific music service to use with Siri, with the options including third-party services like Spotify in addition to Apple Music. When this feature first came to light in beta versions of iOS 14.5, many early reports interpreted it as Apple allowing users to select a default streaming service, similar to the...