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

Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.

0 comments
Answer accepted by question author
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.

Was this answer helpful?

3100+ people found this answer helpful.
0 comments

180 additional answers

Sort by: Newest
Most helpful Newest Oldest
  1. Anonymous
    2023-06-26T14:07:13+00:00

    Yes this helped tons. Thank you!!

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  2. Anonymous
    2023-06-23T05:18:56+00:00

    I tried setting Chrome and MS Edge as defaults browsers via MS settings and neither work

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  3. Anonymous
    2023-06-23T05:16:09+00:00

    Thanks Tochi,

    Unfortunately, I have Outlook 2007 and the "file" menu does not have an "options" option.

    I did look around and found a default button under "tools' "Options", but all it does is to direct you to the microsoft settings to set the system default apps. I have already set MS Edge and MS Outlook as defaults and that doesn't work. I may have to migrate to a newer version of Outlook to get that ability to set the browser defaults to solve this issue.

    Cheers, Robert

    Was this answer helpful?

    0 comments
  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.

    Was this answer helpful?

    2 people found this answer helpful.
    0 comments