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
    2023-07-19T16:45:32+00:00

    Hello Ianggjames, If your OS is set up to have the default browser, the next step that worked was to go into the Outlook settings. Note: I'm not using the new beta version of Outlook or online. I've copied steps from other comments below.

    Follow either of these 2 options and don't worry about uninstalling! Microsoft is already choosing their preference for you to their platform in a program-specific setting. I'm not knowledgeable if this is new 🤷‍♀️ but it seems like it as I've never had such problems before!

    From Saleaway's comment on Page 1, I found the steps I needed.

    saleaway

    Replied on April 10, 2023Report abuse

    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

    Another user, Andy Galloway, had updated the steps to this:

    Andy Galloway

    Replied on July 15, 2023Report abuse

    ReplyIn reply to saleaway's post on April 10, 2023This was the answer I was looking for, thanks. A small update is that the option now lives under:

    File >>
    Options >>
    Advanced >>
    File and Browser preferences >>
    Show previews for links when you add them to emails >>
    Opem hyperlinks from Outlook in >>
    Then select "Default Browser" from the drop down list, making sure that Chrome is your default browser.

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  2. Anonymous
    2023-07-19T14:52:33+00:00

    Makes no difference whatsoever! When I click on "view email in browser" within an Outlook email, it opens in Edge (even though I've actually uninstalled the damned program!!) How are Microsoft getting away with this? Every country in the world should be penalising them for gross misuse of their monopoly position.

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  3. Anonymous
    2023-07-17T18:04:21+00:00

    After having the system setup as default, This was EXACTLY the solve I needed!! Thank you!

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  4. Anonymous
    2023-07-15T22:28:16+00:00

    July 15,2023 - as of this date in Outlook 365, they've changed the "Open link from Outlook in:" to this. I deselected this option as it appears to attempt to open the hyperlink in a Microsoft Office desktop app and what I wanted was the Chrome option. I closed Outlook and reopened it and it appears to work.

    Hope this helps.

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