Set default web browser on Linux

On Debian based systems, the default browser is set using the alternatives mechanism.

Get browser categories

# update-alternatives --get-selections | grep browser
gnome-www-browser              auto     /usr/bin/google-chrome-stable
x-www-browser                  auto     /usr/bin/google-chrome-stable

Get registered alternatives

# update-alternatives --list gnome-www-browser
/usr/bin/firefox-esr
/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable
# update-alternatives --list x-www-browser
/usr/bin/firefox-esr
/usr/bin/google-chrome-stable
/usr/bin/konqueror

Set your preferred web browser

# update-alternatives --set x-www-browser /usr/bin/firefox-esr 
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/firefox-esr to provide /usr/bin/x-www-browser (x-www-browser) in manual mode
# update-alternatives --set gnome-www-browser /usr/bin/firefox-esr 
update-alternatives: using /usr/bin/firefox-esr to provide /usr/bin/gnome-www-browser (gnome-www-browser) in manual mode

Success

All apps should now use your default web browser, as long as you haven't set the browser to use explicitly in the app's settings.

Happy browsing!

~ /home 🏠 ~ talks 💬 ~ bash ~ craftsmanship ~ db ~ dongxi ~ emacs ~ escenic ~ iam ~ java ~ js ~ language ~ latex ~ ldap ~ life ~ linux ~ llm ~ mac-os-x ~ mt-foo ~ network ~ norsk ~ python ~ quotes ~ running ~ security ~ travel ~ unix ~ various ~ vcs ~ webdesign ~ windows ~ discoveries ~ cv 🧙 ~

Licensed under CC BY

~ 📡 RSS feed ~ ✉ torstein.k.johansen @ gmail ~ 🐘 @skybert@hachyderm.io ~ 🎥 youtube.com/@skybert