What is the default web browser in Windows 11?

The default web browser in Windows 11 is Microsoft Edge. Microsoft developed Edge as the successor to Internet Explorer, first releasing it with Windows 10 in 2015. The modern version is built on Chromium, the open-source browser project also used by Google Chrome, but Edge remains Microsoft's own browser with distinct features, branding, and integration with Windows.

On a fresh Windows 11 installation, web links and common web-related file types are associated with Edge. Users can change the default browser in Settings, so “default” does not mean Edge is the only browser Windows 11 can use. Mozilla Firefox, Google Chrome, Opera, and other browsers can be installed and selected instead.

A common mix-up is Internet Explorer, which was the long-standing Windows browser before Edge replaced it. Internet Explorer 11 was retired from most supported Windows editions in 2022. Another wrinkle is that some Windows features, such as certain search or widget links, may still open in Edge even after a user chooses another default browser.