cannot set chrome as default browser in Windows 10

Not sure how you did it but use Cortana to search for "Default Programs" and run the app. Select "Set Default Programs". Highlight Google Chrome and click on "Set this program as default"

1. Click Start Menu > Settings:

select settings

2. Click the ‘System‘ tile:

settings app in windows 10

3. Select ‘Default Apps’ from the left-hand column:

select default apps in windows 10 settings

4. Scroll down to the section headed ‘Web browser’ and click on the icon underneath (it will either read ‘Microsoft Edge’).

5. Select Google Chrome from the list that appears.

choose an app picker in windows 10

Next time you click on a web-link in another app, for example on Twitter or in an e-mail, the resulting web-page will open in Google Chrome and not Microsoft Edge.

Thanks for the response.  As I mentioned, I've already done all of the regular mechanisms including your suggestions.  Apparently this is a known problem but I have not been able to find a solution.  I hope someone else responses quickly.

You get a lot of hits but they all seemed to be resolved by setting the default programs. Have you tried setting it from withing Chrome? Settings=>Default Browser?

Yes...that did not work either.   Does this have anything to do with a "local" account vs. a MS account?  I switched back to a local account for sign in but I do not know if this was an issue prior to that switch or not.

It shouldn't matter if it's a local account or an MS account. Are you saying that after switching to the local account it lets you set Chrome as the default browser now?

If it's still not working, give this a shot. Uninstall Chrome and restart your computer. Then download the latest version of Chrome and install it again. See if it prompts you to set it as the default browser at launch now or try setting it to the default with the suggestions mentioned by others above.

Another suggestion I saw was to toggle. Set Edge or IE if it will let you then. Close and try to set Chrome again.

greyknight17...This is what I had already tried previously.  I removed Chrome, downloaded the latest version from Google and reinstalled it.  I took the option during the install to set Chrome as the default browser.  That didn't work either.  So I did everything you indicated except to restart the system after removing Chrome.

I did switch to a local account but I don't think this has anything to do with the default issue.  I was trying to think of things that I had done that could possibly affect "permissions".  

lockdown32....I had already tried what you suggested.  W10 still would not allow me to change to IE or Chrome.  

I called MS.  Unfortunately, I was not near the system in question so did not have access to the system. MS wants to do their thing by looking at the system remotely.  We'll probably do that tomorrow.  I have a feeling there is a corrupted system file.  I did not do a SFC /scannow which I'm sure will be the first thing they'll try.  I also have a feeling they will do an OS reinstall.  

Will let you know what happens.  Thanks for your responses.

Run SFC first instead of having MS log into your system remotely. Saves both of you time that way and like you said, maybe it's related to a corrupted system file.

Here's one more suggestion. It's similar to the others but worth a try. Go back to Start menu > Settings > System > Default Apps. Scroll down to the bottom and click on the Reset button. This will reset all those default apps options you see above it to the MS default settings. Now try setting Chrome as the default app again using any of the various methods.

The only other hit I found was someone said their virus software (or some security software they had) actually prevented the change from being accepted. Try disabling your security software long enough to make the change.

This issue has resolved itselt. I wish I knew exactly how but cannot.  I'm distributing points to two experts.  Thanks for your help.  The only thing I can think of that might have fixed this was a restart which perhaps reset the registry.