Ubuntu – How to launch default web browser from the terminal

nautilus --browser will ensure that Nautilus is launched in browser mode even if you're normally using it in spatial mode.

You can append the path you want to open to the end:

nautilus --browser ~/some/directory

Execute the following command in terminal,to change the default browser.

sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser

Sample output:

karthick@Ubuntu-desktop:~$ sudo update-alternatives --config x-www-browser 
There are 3 choices for the alternative x-www-browser (providing /usr/bin/x-www-browser).

  Selection    Path                    Priority   Status
------------------------------------------------------------
  0            /usr/bin/google-chrome   200       auto mode
* 1            /usr/bin/firefox         40        manual mode
  2            /usr/bin/google-chrome   200       manual mode
  3            /usr/bin/opera           90        manual mode

• Press enter to keep the default[*].

• Right now I have firefox as my default web browser.

• If i want google-chrome as default browser then I will type 3 and hit enter.

Note:

• If you want to configure a commandline browser,then you have to configure

  sudo update-alternatives --config www-browser

• Alternate way is to add the following line export BROWSER=/usr/bin/firefox to your ~/.bashrc

• Add the above line in the last,

  

Alternative GUI Method:

• You can also set the default browser in Gnome applications,type the following in terminal and press Enter gnome-default-applications-properties
• It will Open a Window.Now you can choose your preferred browser to set it default.