Ubuntu – How to set the Default Browser from the Command Line

browsercommand lineconfiguration

Tried to set the default browser using the GUI tools but this didn't work overall. Is there a way to configure the system wide default browser from command line?

Best Answer

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,

    enter code here

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. alt text
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