Look Up Feature Ignores Default Browser

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Look Up Feature Ignores Default Browser

Hi folks,

I've noticed an issue in Monterey (12.7.3) and I'm wondering how many others are experiencing it.

Across Mac apps (1st party and 3rd party apps), let's imagine you write "midnight commander". (It's an app.) Now, let's assume you select and right-click that term select "Look up." If the OS doesn't find a ready explanation in the dictionary (or usual sources), it'll offer the option to search your default Safari search engine. In my case it says "Search in DuckDuckGo". When I select this, it opens in Safari. But the problem is that my default browser is Safari Technology Preview. I've tried setting my default browser to Librewolf, Firefox, whatever. Regardless, 'Search in <Search Engine>' opens in Safari.

Why doesn't it respect my choice of default of browser?

The only explanation I can come to is that this Look-Up functionality has been hardcoded to always open in Safari. (Pretty shoddy IMO.)

Please confirm if this happens for you, too, mentioning your OS version. If there's a solution, please let me know.

Thanks.

MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.14

Posted on Feb 28, 2024 4:35 AM

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Answer 1

Feb 29, 2024 8:41 AM in response to petelingo

I am afraid you are exactly right.

There are some places in the OS where the links open in Safari, regardless of which browser is selected as default.

All any of us can do is report it, but I would not hold my breath.

https://www.apple.com/feedback

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Answer 2

petelingo Author

Level 1

53 points

Feb 29, 2024 12:06 PM in response to Luis Sequeira1

You're right, Louis. I entirely forgot I have Sonoma installed as part of a dual boot, so I also tested in Sonoma 14.3.1. It does respect your default browser. So, it is a problem on Monterey 12.7.3. I wonder when it was fixed.

I installed Sonoma as a dual boot purely so I could install Asahi Linux on my MBP. I never use Sonoma because until now, it didn't offer me anything I didn't already have on Monterey. I'm glad this issue is fixed on Sonoma, but I can never find anything in the new Settings app. So, I'll be sticking with Monterey for now.

BTW, Asahi Linux is a revelation. The best design work happening right now on desktop OSes is in on Linux, especially Gnome.

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Answer 3

Feb 29, 2024 11:03 AM in response to petelingo

I have to retract my previous comment, at least in part.

I tried using Lookup, while setting the default browser to be Firefox.

I am running Sonoma 14.3.1, the current version.

It is honoring the default browser.

For now, I cannot remember exactly what other situations used to always call Safari. At the moment, I am not finding any. I think it used to happen with some links from Mail, but cannot cause this to happen at the moment.

Maybe this was fixed in some intermediate version?

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Answer 4

petelingo Author

Level 1

53 points

Feb 29, 2024 10:05 AM in response to Luis Sequeira1

For the sake of comparison, Luis, what version of macOS are you using, please? Thanks.

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Look Up Feature Ignores Default Browser

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