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
    2025-05-12T20:02:11+00:00

    Thanks for the info. I've updated the solution with the instructions for the New Outlook.

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  2. Anonymous
    2025-05-12T19:25:58+00:00

    I have Outlook 365 and had this same issue, but found it this way (after far too long of searching):

    1. Open Outlook
    2. Go to settings (I find it on the settings icon on the top right of the screen)
    3. Click general
    4. Click Links
    5. Change from Microsoft Edge and select, "default browser"

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  3. Anonymous
    2025-04-01T15:44:30+00:00

    I'm guessing that there have been some Microsoft fixes issued already, because this time when I went to "Default Apps" and selected Chrome as my default browser then returned to check the operation of Outlook, the links were going to Chrome! Thanks to all for your persistence on this matter!

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  4. Anonymous
    2025-04-01T10:57:01+00:00

    For those of you that have Office perpetual such as Office Home and Business 2021 it appears there is a bug that the setting is appearing under File, Options, Advanced, File and Browser preferences, but the picker is missing. I am going to submit a bug for this issue.

    From my testing if you want to change the browser that opens links you could do these steps that will make Outlook use the Windows default browser setting. If you get a chance to test this and confirm if it worked, please let me know.

    1. In Windows set the default browser that you want to use (Settings, Default Apps).
    2. In the registry check if you have any of these registry keys under this Links registry path below and if so delete them.
    3. Restart Outlook

    Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Links

    BrowserChoice

    BrowserChoiceTime

    DecisionComplete

    Image

    YES - this did work for me! I'm on a 2016 version and have tried EVERYTHING. None of the options here have worked because when I go

    • File

    -Options

    -Advanced

    the hyperlink default choice isn't there under any of the names mentioned. I've Googled, set up a new Microsoft Community thread, everything. I'm not tech savvy so following these instructions was a risk for me - I had no idea what I was doing but I was willing to take the risk. I deleted the registry keys including the one that says (default). The next time I followed a link from email, a pop up appeared asking me which browser I want to default to, Edge or default. I chose default (which I have set to Chrome a million times!) and it seems to be working. Hopefully it stays that way.

    Thank you to Gabriel Bratton and I hope this post helps other people.

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