Outlook Links Don't Open in Chrome (Set as Default Browser)

Anonymous
2023-03-13T18:35:12+00:00

Hi, as of today, when I click a link in Outlook, it opens in Microsoft Edge even though Google Chrome is my default web application. I've verified that in Apps > Default Apps that Google Chrome is my default web browser. I've attempted to change my computer's registry default web app to Chrome as well, and Outlook links are still being opened in Edge. Can you please help me?

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For business

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Anonymous
2023-04-10T14:37:24+00:00

I finally found the option to change the default browser for outlook. The option is in Outlook.

Change the default browser for NEW Outlook:

  1. Open Outlook
  2. Go to settings by clicking the gear icon in the top right corner
  3. Click on the General tab
  4. Click on Links
  5. Choose Default browser instead of Microsoft Edge

Change the default browser for OLD Outlook:

  1. Open Outlook
  2. File
  3. Options
  4. Advanced
  5. File and browser preferences
  6. Open hyperlinks from Outlook in: Choose Default Browser
  7. Restart Outlook

Change the default browser for Windows 11:

  1. Click on the Wi-Fi or Speaker icon by the Clock, then click on the Gear icon to open Windows Settings.
  2. Once in Settings, go to Apps → Default Apps.
  3. Find your preferred browser in the list and click on it.
  4. Click the button 'Set default'.

Turn off Outlook Side bar:

If you do use Edge but only want to turn off the Outlook Side bar that pops up in edge when you click a link in your email, follow these steps:

  1. Open Edge
  2. Click ...
  3. Settings
  4. Sidebar
  5. Under App and notification settings, Click Outlook
  6. Automatically open Outlook email context in the side pane: Toggle Off.

Edit 5/12/2025

-Added instructions for the new Outlook.

Edit 10/5/2023

-Added instructions on how to set the default browser in Windows as well.

Edit 9/12/2023:

  • Glad to have helped so many people with this post.
  • Updated the wording on step 5 to match the wording in the latest version of Outlook.

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  1. Anonymous
    2023-06-12T04:50:31+00:00

    Thanks MAte it worked

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    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2023-11-04T07:32:10+00:00

    This is 100% unadulterated bullsh!t. So now a "default browser" is only the default if you aren't using a Microsoft app such as Outlook?

    BTW - As far as I can see Edge can't be removed from Windows 11, so we are back to the IE days. I wonder if the same behavior happens in Europe because we all know the EU required Microsoft to unbundle IE from the OS.

    The Microsoft "sleight of hand" is it doesn't honor the default browser setting in their own email client - I guess because their email client is a separate application and can do what it wants? So that begs the question of what a "default application" is in Microsoft's eyes. While it may be legal I find it deceptive.

    Microsoft - please stop trying to shove your browser down everybody's throat. If you come up with a better browser people will adopt it.

    P.S. - I have some colleagues/clients that actually changed their email clients because of this silliness. So rather than forcing your browser on them, they are now using third-party web browsers and email clients.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-10-23T08:20:06+00:00

    This is getting ridiculous now. I've just searched and also can't find link or browser settings in Outlook but when I follow links this still opens in Edge and Bing search.

    To add insult to injury, when I have Outlook installed on my Android tablet, a long press (context menu) now shows 'Bing Search' as one of the options, even when browsing in Chrome. The only way I can find to stop this is to uninstall Outlook. I will be looking for an alternative email client.

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-06-22T23:28:58+00:00

    I finally found the option to change the default browser for outlook. The option is in Outlook

    1. File
    2. Options
    3. Advanced
    4. Link Handling
    5. Open hyper links from Outlook in: Choose Default Browser

    Thank you sir!

    I don't know why I didn't encounter this issue until this week, even though I've been using the Outlook program for months. Once again, it proves that Microsoft is notorious for enforcing unpopular products with its dominating power.

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    2 people found this answer helpful.
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