How to Change Your Mobile Web Browser

Your device's default browser opens when you click hyperlinks.

The line between mobile phones and full-fledged computers is becoming blurred more and more every day. According to a study released by ABI Research, by the year 2015 over 3.8 billion mobile handsets, or roughly 60 percent of the world's mobile phones, will come with some type of mobile browser. Just because a cell phone comes with a mobile browser doesn't mean that the stock browser is your only option for surfing the Internet, however. There are a number of alternative browsers for Android, iOS and BlackBerry devices, and you can change your mobile Web browser directly from your Internet-enabled smartphone.

Instructions

1. iPhone

   • 1
     Tap the "App Store" icon on the iPhone's home screen, followed by the "Search" icon at the bottom of the App Store application window.
     
   • 2
     Type the name of the mobile browser you want to download, then tap "Search" to search for the application. Opera, Mercury and Mango are a few of the Safari alternatives available on the iTunes App Store.
     
   • 
     
   • 3
     Tap the name of the mobile browser you want to install. Tap the "Free" button, followed by the "Install" button to install the browser onto the iPhone.
     
   • 4
     Tap the new browser's application icon on the iPhone's home screen to launch the browser.
     

   Android

   • 5
     Tap the "Market" icon on the Android device's home screen to launch the Android Market, then tap the "Search" icon.
     
   • 6
     Type the name of the browser alternative you want to download, then tap the "Enter" button. Dolphin, Skyfire and Steel are a few of the Android mobile browser alternatives available on the Android Market.
     
   • 7
     Tap the name of the mobile browser in the list of search results, then tap "Install" to install the browser onto the Android device.
     
   • 8
     Tap "Menu | Settings | Applications | Manage Applications."
     
   • 9
     Tap the "Browser" option, followed by the "Clear Defaults" button. The next time you attempt to perform a task that requires the use of a Web browser, you will be prompted to select the new default browser. Select the mobile browser you installed to set it as the device's default browser.
     

   BlackBerry

   • 10
     Select the BlackBerry browser application on the BlackBerry device's home screen to launch the browser.
     
   • 11
     Navigate to m.opera.com and select the "Download Opera Mini" link to download and install the Opera Mini browser onto your BlackBerry device.
     
   • 12
     Select the Opera Mini browser to launch the application.