Changing the Default Browser in Gnome

6 Jan 2005

In the more recent versions of Gnome, they have introduced the ability to set a default browser and email client, among other programs. What the default browser is depends on the Linux distribution you're using.

In SUSE LINUX 9.2 Professional, the default browser is Mozilla Firefox. Although this is my personal browser of choice, it might not be someone else's. So, let's learn how to change it.

First, you've got to figure out which browser you want to be your default and make sure it's installed.

SUSE LINUX 9.2 Professional with Gnome comes with three browsers by default:

  • Mozilla
  • Mozilla Firefox
  • Epiphany
(If you installed KDE along with Gnome, the Konqueror browser will also be installed)

Let's assume you want to make Epiphany your default browser.

Start by following: System -> Control Center



A new window will appear. Click on the "File Associations" in the bottom left-hand corner.



The window that opens is the one we need to focus on. This is where your computer associates different file types with the applications that open them.



Go ahead and click on the arrow before the "Internet Services" menu item.



You'll see an additional list of items below. Find "World Wide Web - http"



Click on the "Edit" button on the right side and a new window will appear.



This contains the actual information of the program related to the "http" protocol. This is the program that will be opened each time you click on an icon linking to somewhere on the Internet.

To change which program is run, change the "Program:" field to contain the name of the program you wish to run. In our case it should be changed to "epiphany". Always keep the "%s" there. That tells the program which file to open.

You've just changed your default browser to Epiphany. As soon as you click "OK", it will be set.

As with almost everything in Linux, there is no need to reboot to put it in effect.



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