How to Switch the New Outlook Default Browser for Opening Email Links

When you click a web link in an email inside the new Outlook for Windows, the app opens that link in Microsoft Edge by default, even if your system browser is set to Chrome or Firefox. This happens because the new Outlook uses a built-in WebView2 control that is tied to Edge, and it does not automatically follow the Windows default browser setting. This article explains how to change the default browser that the new Outlook uses for opening email links, covering both the Windows setting and an Outlook-specific override.

Why the New Outlook Ignores Your System Default Browser

The new Outlook for Windows is built on a web-based platform that uses Microsoft Edge WebView2 to render content. This design means that when you click a hyperlink in an email, Outlook opens the link inside an Edge WebView2 instance by default, rather than passing the link to your system-level default browser. Microsoft chose this behavior to provide a consistent experience and to support features like link previews and security checks that rely on Edge. However, many users prefer to use Chrome, Firefox, or another browser for their daily work. Changing the default browser in Windows Settings alone is not always enough, because Outlook may still override that setting with its own preference.

The fix involves two layers. First, you must ensure that your preferred browser is set as the default at the Windows level. Second, you need to adjust an Outlook-specific setting that controls where links are opened. If the Outlook setting is set to open links in the Outlook pane (which uses Edge), links will never go to your system browser. Once you change that setting to open links in the default browser, Outlook will respect your Windows default browser choice.

Steps to Change the Default Browser in the New Outlook

Follow these steps to make the new Outlook open email links in your preferred browser instead of Microsoft Edge. The process works for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

1. Set your preferred browser as the Windows default
   Press the Windows key and type Default apps, then press Enter. In the Default apps window, find your preferred browser (for example, Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox). Click it, then click Set default. If you see file type associations, set .htm, .html, and HTTP/HTTPS to your chosen browser. Close the Settings window.
2. Open the new Outlook and go to Settings
   Launch the new Outlook for Windows. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner to open the Settings pane. Alternatively, click File > Options in the ribbon if you are using the full menu view.
3. Navigate to the File Links section
   In the Settings pane, click General on the left side, then scroll down and click File Links. This section controls how Outlook handles links inside emails.
4. Change the link opening behavior
   Under the Opening links section, you will see a dropdown menu labeled Open links in. The default option is Outlook pane. Click the dropdown and select Default browser. This tells Outlook to pass all web links to your system default browser instead of opening them inside the Outlook pane.
5. Save and restart Outlook
   After changing the option, close the Settings pane. To ensure the change takes effect, close the new Outlook completely and then reopen it. Click a link in any email to verify that it opens in your preferred browser.

If the New Outlook Still Opens Links in Edge

After following the steps above, some users may still see links opening in Edge. This can happen if the Windows default browser setting was not applied correctly, or if a Group Policy or registry setting is overriding the behavior. Below are the most common scenarios and their fixes.

Links still open in Edge after changing the Outlook setting

First, double-check the Windows default apps setting. Open Windows Settings > Apps > Default apps and confirm that your browser is listed as the default for HTTP and HTTPS. You can also click Reset to Microsoft recommended defaults and then reassign your browser. After resetting, repeat the Outlook steps above. If the problem persists, try clearing the Edge cache by opening Edge, clicking the three-dot menu, selecting Settings > Privacy, search, and services, and clicking Choose what to clear under Clear browsing data. Restart both Edge and Outlook.

Outlook opens links in a separate Edge window instead of the Outlook pane

If you set the Outlook option to Default browser but links still open in Edge, your Windows default browser may still be set to Edge. Open Windows Settings > Apps > Default apps and change the default for HTTP and HTTPS to your preferred browser. If you are using Windows 11, you may need to set defaults for each link type individually. Click your browser, then click Set default. If the option is grayed out, your organization may enforce a policy that prevents changing the default browser.

Group Policy or registry blocks the change

In managed environments, IT administrators can set a policy that forces Outlook to use Edge for all links. If you are on a work computer and cannot change the setting, contact your IT department. For personal computers, you can override the policy using the registry. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter. Navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Options\Webmail. If the Webmail key does not exist, right-click the Options folder and select New > Key, then name it Webmail. Inside the Webmail key, create a new DWORD (32-bit) value named DisableHyperlinkPreview and set its value to 1. Create another DWORD named ForceDefaultBrowser and set it to 1. Close the Registry Editor and restart Outlook. This forces Outlook to use the system default browser for all links.

Default Browser vs Outlook Pane: Key Differences

Item	Default Browser	Outlook Pane (Edge WebView2)
Link destination	Opens in your system default browser (Chrome, Firefox, etc.)	Opens inside the Outlook reading pane or a new Edge window
Browser extensions	All your installed browser extensions and bookmarks are available	No extensions or bookmarks from your primary browser
Security features	Uses your browser’s security settings and password manager	Uses Edge WebView2 security, which may block some content
Performance impact	No extra load on Outlook; link opens in a separate process	Adds memory and CPU usage to the Outlook process
Privacy	Links are opened with your browser’s privacy settings and cookies	Links are opened in a sandboxed WebView2 that may share cookies with Edge

The choice depends on your workflow. If you rely on browser extensions like password managers or ad blockers, using the default browser is better. If you prefer to keep everything inside Outlook without switching windows, the Outlook pane may be more convenient.

You can now control which browser the new Outlook uses for email links by adjusting the Windows default apps setting and the Outlook File Links option. If you manage multiple computers or work in an IT role, consider using the registry or Group Policy method to enforce the setting across your organization. As an advanced tip, you can also set the Open links in dropdown to Default browser and then configure your browser to always open in a specific profile, which keeps your work and personal browsing separate.