There’s a reason why Chrome is the most popular browser on the planet. It’s extremely easy to get used to, seamlessly syncs data across devices, and can be used on all major platforms. It’s also intuitively designed for iPhone and iPad, and is among the best in navigation on both devices. However, can you set it as the default browser and abandon Safari altogether?
If you’ve used an iPhone or iPad for a while, you’ve probably tried and failed to set Chrome as the default browser. Apple did not allow this to protect its native Safari browser.
However, with iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, the Cupertino-based technology giant finally broke that wall. This means you can easily make Chrome (or any other supported web browser like Firefox) the default browser on your iOS or iPadOS device.
What do you need
To set Chrome as the default browser on iPhone and iPad, you must have iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 installed. If you haven’t done this yet, go to Settings > General > Software Update to perform the upgrade. Compatible devices include iPhone SE, iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, iPad Air 2 and newer.
You also need an updated version of Chrome installed on your iPhone or iPad. Go to the App Store, search for ‘chrome’ and tap Update if an update is available.
After doing both, you are ready to make Chrome the default browser on iPhone and iPad.
Set Chrome as Default Browser
To set Chrome as the default browser on your iPhone or iPad, start by going to the Settings app. Scroll down and tap Chrome. Then follow up by tapping on Set Default Browser.
Select Chrome in the list below and then return to the previous screen. And voila! Chrome is now the default browser on your device. Any links you touched will now open in Chrome, not Safari.
If you want to set another browser as default, follow the same procedure. However, you may not yet find all web browsers that will support the functionality. Therefore, it is a good idea to update them regularly.
Should You Switch to Chrome?
Although you can change the default browsers on iPhone and iPad, you may want to stick with Safari instead of switching to Chrome. Here are a few reasons why you should do this:
Better Performance and Battery Life
Safari is an incredibly fast web browser. As of iOS 14, Apple claims its web browser is over 50% faster than Chrome on Android. The iOS version of Chrome is almost identical in performance to Safari as it uses the same WebKit rendering engine. However, you will find that Safari uses less resources and has less impact on battery life.
Enhanced Privacy and Security
Safari is a privacy-focused web browser with built-in functionality that prevents cross-site cookies from tracking you.
Beginning with iOS 14, you can also use the Privacy Report feature (accessible from the Safari menu) to learn about the various trackers used by websites (and which the browser has blocked from working).
Image courtesy of Apple
Safari is also set to support seamless Face ID/Touch ID logins to websites, which can make the browser even more private to use.
Supports Content Blockers
Chrome doesn’t support content blockers, but Safari does. Content blockers help block ads and additional trackers. Safari also allows you to easily whitelist websites you support via the browser menu.
However, you can use a workaround to prevent ads from loading in Chrome. But it’s rather cumbersome compared to Safari with content blocker.
Internal Translation Module
In iOS 14 and later, Safari comes with the ability to translate foreign websites. If the only reason to use Chrome is to take advantage of its built-in language translation features, there’s no reason to leave Safari now.
Image courtesy of Apple
Native Desktop Mode
Safari has the ability to function as a desktop browser. This is incredibly useful, especially if you use an iPad. Combine that with a Magic Keyboard (or a third-party keyboard with trackpad) and you’ll find Safari to be the best choice for a desktop-class web browsing experience.
New Default
So, are you abandoning Safari for good? As good as it is, Chrome is the better option because of its multi-platform support capabilities. Note that Firefox comes right after, and is just as privacy-focused as Safari.
However, Apple does not give us a way to remove Safari from iPhone and iPad. However, you can choose to hide it in the Application Library.
Next: Have you made Chrome the default browser on your iPhone or iPad? Here are 10 essential tips you can use to improve your privacy.
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