Outlook 2021 (New) doesn't respect default browser

[Geldner]

Operating system::    Windows 11
Outlook version:     New Outlook 2021
Email type or host:    POP & IMAP

---

Even though Firefox is set as my global browser in Windows 11, Outlook insists on opening ALL links in MS Edge. MS has also removed the configuration option to change this. Grrr. I tried installing MSEdgeRedirect but that just went crazy on my system and continuously hogged about 10% of the CPU.

Any other ideas? I submitted feedback to MS about this. They are dancing on the Edge of class action / antitrust for the same reasons when they were busted for forcing Internet Explorer in Windows.

 

[Diane Poremsky]

You're saying this option is missing?
File > Options > Advanced. Near the top is Open hyperlinks from Outlook in. Select Default browser.

Links in Outlook open in a sidebar in Edge

How to disable the Microsoft Edge option that opens email is a side panel when you click a link in an email in classic Outlook.

www.slipstick.com

The change sets a registry key - I don't have it in the article but will look it up and add it.

 

[Geldner]

You're saying this option is missing?
File > Options > Advanced. Near the top is Open hyperlinks from Outlook in. Select Default browser.

Links in Outlook open in a sidebar in Edge

How to disable the Microsoft Edge option that opens email is a side panel when you click a link in an email in classic Outlook.

www.slipstick.com

The change sets a registry key - I don't have it in the article but will look it up and add it.

Yeah no such option. Others have said it's missing as well.

 

[Hornblower409]

Interesting post on Ten Forums and SpiceWorks about this. Sounds like it's your normal MSFT SNAFU. And may be license and/or version dependent.

The post reference a GPO, but I can't find it in the latest Office Group Policy Administrative Templates. And there are references in the post to two different registry keys, but I can't confirm because I don't have MS365.

 

[Hornblower409]

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\links
"browserchoice" dword 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Links
"DecisionComplete" dword 1

 

[Geldner]

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\office\16.0\common\links
"browserchoice" dword 0

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Common\Links
"DecisionComplete" dword 1

Tried and as the OP stated in TenForums, it did not work. It appears MS has forced Edge into this.

 

[Hornblower409]

Not any help, but I was wrong about one part. It IS in the new Office Group Policy Administrative Templates Version 5486.1000 Date Published: 1/15/2025. But the registry key specified is "software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\links".

<policy name="L_M365LinksBrowserChoice" class="User" displayName="$(string.L_M365LinksHandlingBrowserChoice)"
key="software\policies\microsoft\office\16.0\common\links">
<string id="L_M365LinksHandlingBrowserChoiceExplain">
This policy controls which browser will open web links from within supported Microsoft 365 apps.
By default, web links will open in Microsoft Edge. Note: This policy doesn’t override any user settings or
policies that specify that document links should open in the desktop apps instead of their web app counterparts.
If you enable this policy, you can choose either “System default browser” or a specific browser,
such as “Microsoft Edge.” “System default browser” refers to the browser setting specified on the user’s
Windows device. If you disable or don’t configure this policy, web links will open in Microsoft Edge.
The user can set their preferred browser from the settings for the specific Microsoft 365 app.
For more information, see https://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/p/?linkid=2224834.</string>

      <elements>
        <enum id="L_BrowserChoiceEnum" valueName="browserchoice">
          <item displayName="$(string.L_DefaultBrowserChoice)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="0" />
            </value>
          </item>
          <item displayName="$(string.L_EdgeChoice)">
            <value>
              <decimal value="1" />
            </value>
          </item>
        </enum>
      </elements>

 

[Diane Poremsky]

Yeah no such option. Others have said it's missing as well.

View attachment 4434

Some of the features are missing in one time purchase versions... it's in office 2024 but not in 2019. I'll need to boot my 2021 test machine to check there.

 

[Diane Poremsky]

BTW - if this is a new issue, it's probably a bug. Since Outlook 2016, they use one base code for all versions and turn features off and on based on the license. There have been a number of times when subscription features showed up in the perpetual versions - usually fixed by an update a couple of weeks later.

 

[ofw62]

Microsoft 365 subscription based.
(Microsoft 365 MSO (Version 2502 Build 16.0.18526.20168) 64-bit)



In a reddit-thread of 2 years back I read it had something to do with Edge setting
"Automatically open Outlook email..." etc. but I found nothing in Edge referring to Outlook, so that has been taken out probably.