copied from this thread - https://www.jamf.com/jamf-nation/discussions/31397/setting-default-applications - this walks you through how to set chrome as the default browser & the plist at the bottom for default pages upon load

I believe by adding these lines to the users com.apple.launchservices.secure.plist (Located -> '/Users/$USERNAME/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices/com.apple.launchservices.secure.plist ')

    <key>LSHandlerRoleAll</key>
                <string>-</string>
            </dict>
            <key>LSHandlerRoleAll</key>
            <string>com.google.Chrome</string>
            <key>LSHandlerURLScheme</key>
            <string>http</string>
        </dict>
        <dict>
            <key>LSHandlerPreferredVersions</key>
            <dict>
                <key>LSHandlerRoleAll</key>
                <string>-</string>
            </dict>
            <key>LSHandlerRoleAll</key>
            <string>com.google.Chrome</string>
            <key>LSHandlerURLScheme</key>
            <string>https</string>
        </dict>
        <dict>
            <key>LSHandlerPreferredVersions</key>
            <dict>
                <key>LSHandlerRoleAll</key>
                <string>-</string>
            </dict>
            <key>LSHandlerRoleAll</key>
            <string>com.google.Chrome</string>
            <key>LSHandlerURLScheme</key>
            <string>ftp</string>
        </dict>
        <dict>
            <key>LSHandlerContentType</key>
            <string>public.html</string>
            <key>LSHandlerPreferredVersions</key>
            <dict>
                <key>LSHandlerRoleAll</key>
                <string>-</string>
            </dict>
            <key>LSHandlerRoleAll</key>
            <string>com.google.Chrome</string>
        </dict>

& then deploying a plist (i did it with a config profile -> "Custom Settings" with the plist passed as is displayed in secure plist above ie "com.google.Chrome" - you want to save the plist as "com.google.chrome.plist" before uploading it.

Image Example Below - "Upload_Field_Custom_Settings_Filename" is where you upload the plist.

You can upload the following plist & config it how you see fit,

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<!DOCTYPE plist PUBLIC "-//Apple//DTD PLIST 1.0//EN" "http://www.apple.com/DTDs/PropertyList-1.0.dtd">
<plist version="1.0">
<dict>
    <key>DefaultBrowserSettingEnabled</key>
    <false/>
    <key>HomepageIsNewTabPage</key>
    <false/>
    <key>HomepageLocation</key>
    <string>www.Website Homepage.com</string>
    <key>RestoreOnStartupURLs</key>
    <array>
        <string>www.Website 1.com</string>
        <string>www.Website 2.com</string>
        <string>www.Website 3.com</string>
    </array>
    <key>RestoreOnStartup</key>
    <integer>4</integer>
    <key>ShowHomeButton</key>
    <true/>
    <key>IncognitoModeAvailability</key>
    <integer>1</integer>
</dict>
</plist>

Yeah, that's what I did. The second part. I have com.google.Chrome.plist . I uploaded it as a configuration profile. It's being applied but when I do `/usr/bin/defaults read com.google.Chrome' it doesn't show it is applied.

@dswitmer How about this?

defaults read ~/Library/Preferences/com.google.Chrome

Yeah, neither. If I do the preference with custom Plist and chrome isn't even installed yet, I should still be able to read com.google.Chrome right? I mean it should be writing it even if Chrome isn't installed yet, right?

If you create a profile in ProfileCreator does it work for you?

Hello @sshort I have also had issues with setting a Chrome homepage. When I tried using ProfileCreator, I haven't been able to get this to load any payload for Chrome. I configured the homepage as you did above. I then exported the profile to my desktop and imported it into my configuration profiles. There is only a description and no payload. I must be doing something wrong...thoughts?

I exported as a profile. Should I be exporting as MCX?

Open Chrome, check for installed policies in the address bar:

chrome://policy

If your homepage policy does not show then it’s not being applied correctly.

Do you have another Chrome config profile which is overlapping this one?

Can you explain HOW TO DO this? Installed profile creator, no chrome options by default. Where do they come from?