How to stop outlook from opening a browser every time I create a meeting?

Someone on Reddit's provided the solution that's worked for my issue (of Outlook repeatedly trying to open OWA in browser when reading emails) and it sounds like this should also address the calendar issue:

[–]The_Poobah2 points 3 days ago

I just heard back an update on this - it's related to a pre-installation that MS has begun implementing on machines, Microsoft Edge WebView2. Desktop apps on 365 use WebView2 to deliver some web-based functionalities.

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i.e. If you have WebView2 installed, RoomFinder will use that to search, and appears the same to 365 as OWA.

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The tech just suggested uninstalling WebView2 to resolve the issue, and said he's just replicated it 100% of the time.

I uninstalled this WebView2 thing using an elevated command prompt:

C:\WINDOWS\system32>cd C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\Application\108.0.1462.46\Installer

C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\EdgeWebView\Application\108.0.1462.46\Installer>setup.exe --uninstall --msedgewebview --system-level --verbose-logging --force-uninstall

Note that the numbers 108.0.1462.46 may be different for you depending on what version you've got installed.

Doing this crashed Outlook, I'd recommend closing it before you take these steps! Reopened it afterwards and it's been fine ever since, happy days.

I have sent this over to MS support in my open ticket, they had been trying to help but weren't getting very far - asking me to do things like verify it still happens with no add-ins enabled, in safe mode, etc.

Hope this helps everyone else :)

Here's the exact quote from the rep I worked with.

"This is not anything that you will see within your health dashboard or be able to track on your end, there is no main ticket of sorts that we could add you to. As previously mentioned, this is a design change and there is no ETA that we can provide on if this will be reversed, we can only advise that OWA would need to be enabled at this time to avoid the popup.

Calvin

Microsoft 365 Support Ambassador 

My working hours: Monday to Friday 12:00 p.m. – 8:35 p.m. (EST) "

So it's a design change, that Microsoft apparently didn't take into consideration people that have OWA disabled.

Just to update, noticed Office had a new update that I forced on a test machine (Version 2211 Build 16.0.15831.20098), but issue is still occurring.

Still happening immediately when you click Invite Attendees from the Appointment tab.

Is there ANY update from Microsoft on this?

Also happening here with our users. OWA is disabled.

Same issue happening in an environment where OWA is disabled across the board. Would like to be able to disable this "feature" from attempting to connect to OWA simply by looking at a calendar event.

Outlook on the web through Edge simply shows the envelope opening then stops.