To promote its own products, Microsoft recently added Edge as the default browser in Outlook. Whenever you click a link in the email app, it automatically opens in the Microsoft Edge browser.
Your email app will still use Edge even if the computer has a different default web browser. Currently, this issue only appears on the Windows operating system.
If you are frustrated with not being able to open the link in your favorite browser, you can always change Outlook’s default browser. This article gives a detailed guide on how to do it on your Windows-running device.
Key Takeaways:
- Microsoft Edge is a browser from the parent company of Outlook; therefore, it is used by default.
- You can change the browser for the email app through its in-app settings.
- Switching the default web browsing from the Windows system settings can help you achieve the goal.
Step By Step Guide to Change Default Browser in Outlook
Introduced in November 2023, Outlook links opening in Edge instead of Chrome problem occurs in Outlook 365 Build 16.0.16227.20280 or newer for Windows. Users of older versions and other operating systems, such as Android, iOS, and MacOS, can still access the system’s default browser.
You can change your browser from Edge to any web browser you want from the settings of your Outlook Windows app.
Follow the steps to change the default browser in Outlook 365:
Step 1) Launch the Outlook app from the Start menu.
Step 2) Make sure you are connected through your own ID, then hit File at the top left corner.
Step 3) Choose Options from the bottom of the newly emerged sidebar on the left.
Step 4) On the Outlook Options window, navigate to the Advanced tab.
Step 5) Under the File and browser preferences, click on the drop-down next to “Open hyperlinks from Outlook in.” Choose Default Browser and click OK to apply changes.
Run the app and check if Outlook opens links in Chrome now. Otherwise, you should ensure Google Chrome is the default browser in the system settings.
How to Make Outlook Open Links in Chrome
Outlook does not let you set Chrome as the default browser from the settings within the app. Therefore, even if you disable Edge in the app, you might still find Outlook opening links in the Microsoft browser.
Microsoft Edge might be set as your default system browser, causing this issue to persist. You can fix it by tweaking the system settings.
Follow the steps to set Chrome as the default browser on Windows:
Step 1) Select Settings by right-clicking the Windows icon on the taskbar.
Step 2) Head to the Apps tab from the side menu.
Step 3) Locate and open the Default Apps section.
Step 4) Search Google Chrome using the lookup tool under Set defaults for applications.
Step 5) Inside Chrome settings, click Set Default before “Make Google Chrome your default browser.”
After executing both techniques, you should be able to open the links received through email on Outlook in the Chrome browser instead of the Edge.
Conclusion
Your Microsoft Outlook app comes with several controls, like recalling email, scheduling, and changing the default browser, but the manufacturer can alter their names, confusing when following instructions. Another solution to this problem is to move back to the older version of Outlook for Windows.
Now you know how to change the default browser in Outlook. For more tips and tutorials about this Microsoft 365 product, visit the Ultimate Guide to Using Microsoft Outlook.
