To change the default browser for Outlook links on Windows, choose the default browser option in Outlook’s browser preferences, then set your preferred browser as the Windows default. Classic Outlook and new Outlook put that preference in different places, and the steps apply where that preference is available. The Windows settings steps below use Windows 11 menus.
The short version
- Classic Outlook: Open File > Options > Advanced and choose the default browser option under File and browser preferences.
- New Outlook: Open Settings > General > Files and links and choose the default browser option.
- Windows default: On Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Default apps, select your browser, then select Set default.
- Other devices: Change the system browser on Mac, or combine your device’s browser default with Outlook’s Open Links With preference on mobile.
| Method or place | What it changes | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Classic Outlook browser preference | Whether Outlook follows Windows | Microsoft 365 with the preference available |
| New Outlook browser preference | Whether Outlook follows Windows | New Outlook with the preference available |
| Teams web link preference | Shared Outlook and Teams preference | Eligible Windows work accounts |
| Edge link-opening banner | Returns to system browser handling | Banner offered and Edge not forced |
| Windows 11 default browser | The system browser | Installed browsers |
| Windows protocol associations | HTTP and HTTPS handling | Outlook follows the system default |
| macOS default browser | The browser Outlook for Mac uses | macOS Ventura 13 and later |
| Outlook mobile preference | System browser or Edge | iPhone, iPad and Android |
| Mobile browser-choice card | Remembers your browser choice | Card offered and policy permits |
| iPhone and iPad default browser | The system browser | Versions with default-app controls |
| Android default browser | The system browser | Current phones and tablets |
| Desktop Chrome settings | Starts the system-default change | Windows and Mac |
| Desktop Firefox settings | Starts the system-default change | Windows and Mac |
| Chrome for Android | Selects Chrome as the default | Outlook follows the system default |
| Chrome for iPhone and iPad | Opens browser-default settings | Outlook follows the system default |
| Office file preference | Browser or desktop app handling | Eligible cloud document links |
| Teams Office file preference | Document handling shared with classic Outlook | Eligible Microsoft 365 Windows users |
| Document link context menu | One-time browser choice | Supported classic Outlook document links |
| Copy a document link | Opens it in your chosen browser | Classic Outlook document-link workaround |
| Outlook on the web | Opens the document link through webmail | Accounts with Outlook on the web |
| Microsoft 365 Cloud Policy | Managed web link preference | Eligible Windows clients and licenses |
| Office Group Policy | Managed web link preference | Eligible Windows clients and licenses |
| Windows default associations policy | Managed HTTP and HTTPS defaults | Managed Windows devices |
| Outlook mobile app configuration | System browser handling and user choice | Managed iOS and Android Outlook |
| iOS and iPadOS app protection | Permitted browser handling | Policy-managed Outlook |
| Android app protection | Permitted browser handling | Policy-managed Outlook |
| Office administrative templates | Provides Office Group Policy settings | Administrators configuring browser policy |
| Chrome download | Installs a browser you can select | Chrome is not installed |
| Firefox download | Installs a browser you can select | Firefox is not installed |
| Microsoft Edge download | Installs a browser you can select | Edge is your preference and is not installed |
Change the preference in classic Outlook
In classic Outlook for Microsoft 365 on Windows, select File > Options > Advanced. Find File and browser preferences, then set Open hyperlinks from Outlook in to the default browser option. Select OK to save the change.
This preference applies to commercial, Personal and Family subscriptions where the setting is available. Choosing the default browser option tells Outlook to follow Windows, so you still need to select your preferred browser in Windows. If your organization controls the choice, use the managed-device options below.
Change the preference in new Outlook
In new Outlook for Windows, open Settings > General > Files and links. Under Open hyperlinks from Outlook in, choose the default browser option. This path applies where the browser preference is available.
The selection follows your Windows browser default. For example, to open links in Chrome, choose the default browser option in Outlook and select Chrome as the Windows default using the next steps.
Set your preferred browser in Windows
On Windows 11, open Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps. Under Set defaults for applications, select your preferred installed browser, then select Set default. For Chrome, the heading is Make Google Chrome your default browser.
If your preferred browser is not installed, get Chrome from the official Chrome download page or Firefox from the official Firefox download page. If you prefer Edge and it is not installed, get it from Microsoft’s official Edge download page. After installation, select your browser in Windows and keep Outlook’s preference on the default browser option.
You can also start the system-default change from desktop Chrome on Windows or Mac. Open Chrome, select More > Settings > Default browser, then select Make default. Complete the operating system’s default-app selection if it opens.
In desktop Firefox, open the menu and select Settings; on Mac, you can also open Firefox > Settings. Find Default browser under General, Account and sync or Home and startup, depending on your interface. Select Make Default… or Make default, then complete Windows default-app selection if prompted.
Choose the browser for Outlook on Mac
For Outlook on Mac, change the system’s default browser. On macOS Ventura 13 and later, open the Apple menu > System Settings > Desktop & Dock. Scroll to Default web browser and choose an installed browser.
You can also initiate the change through desktop Chrome or Firefox using their settings described above. In Chrome, complete the operating system’s default-app selection if it opens.
Change Outlook links on your phone or tablet
In Outlook for iPhone, iPad or Android, open Settings > Open Links With. Choose the option for your system default browser, or choose Microsoft Edge. When you choose the system default, select your preferred browser in your device settings as well.
On current iOS and iPadOS versions with default-app controls, open Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App. Select your preferred installed browser. Keep Outlook’s Open Links With preference on the system-default option.
On Android, open Settings > Apps. Under General, select Default apps, then Browser app, and select your browser. Some manufacturers label the first option Choose default apps; select that instead, then open Browser app.
An administrator can hide or control Outlook’s mobile browser setting. If your work or school policy restricts browser choice, your administrator must change the applicable configuration or protection policy.
Fix links that still open in the wrong browser
Check both preferences first: Outlook must use the default browser option, and Windows must have your preferred browser selected. Changing Windows alone does not override an Outlook preference that sends links to Edge. Return to the classic or new Outlook path above and check the selection.
For individual web-link associations on Windows 11, open Settings > Apps > Default apps. Search for HTTP, select its association and choose your browser, then repeat for HTTPS. Alternatively, select the browser and change its listed link associations. These associations govern Outlook’s links when Outlook uses the system default.
If you use Teams desktop for Windows with a work account and the shared Outlook browser experience, open Teams and select Settings > Files and links > Link open preferences. Choose the system-default-browser option. Microsoft says this preference applies across both apps.
When the Outlook or Teams link-opening banner appears in Edge, select Manage my settings to return to the system-default-browser experience. This option is unavailable when an administrator forces Edge, so an administrator must change that policy instead.
Open Office document links in your browser
Links to Word, Excel and PowerPoint files hosted on OneDrive or SharePoint can have a separate browser-versus-desktop-app preference. For eligible Microsoft 365 Windows subscriptions, this controls how supported documents open, without choosing a particular browser.
In classic Outlook, right-click a supported file link and select Set open default > Browser. Alternatively, open File > Options > Advanced, find File open preference, choose Browser, then select OK. You can also change this persistent document preference in Word, Excel or PowerPoint.
For eligible Microsoft 365 Windows users, Teams offers another route that extends to classic Outlook. Open Teams and select Settings and more > Settings > Files and links. Under Always open Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files in, choose Browser.
For a one-time browser choice in classic Outlook for Microsoft 365, right-click a supported SharePoint or OneDrive Office document link in the email body, select Open with, then choose your browser. If the document opens blank or with an error, you can instead copy its link, paste it into your preferred browser’s address bar and open the address. Neither approach changes your default browser.
Change browser policies on managed Windows devices
If you administer eligible Windows Outlook and Teams clients, you can set their browser preference through Microsoft 365 Cloud Policy or Office Group Policy. Microsoft excludes Outlook in Microsoft 365 for business plans from this browser policy. Check that licensing condition before applying either route.
In Microsoft 365 Apps admin center, select Office policies > Go to Microsoft 365 Cloud Policy > Policy configurations > Create. Name and scope the policy, then under Configure Settings, find Choose which browser opens web links. Enable it with System default browser, then select Apply > Next > Create > Done.
For Office Group Policy, obtain the current Office administrative templates from Microsoft’s official download page and load them. In Group Policy Management Editor, open Policies > Administrative Templates: Policy definitions (ADMX files) > Microsoft Office 2016 > Links > Choose which browser opens web links. Enable it with System default browser, then select Apply.
To configure the Windows browser itself, prepare a default-associations XML file identifying the intended browser for HTTP and HTTPS. In Group Policy, open Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Windows Components > File Explorer > Set a default associations configuration file. Select Enabled, enter the XML location under Options:, then select OK.
You can instead deploy DefaultAssociationsConfiguration through MDM for managed Windows devices. Outlook’s own browser preference must also use the system default for these associations to govern its links.
Change browser policies on managed phones
If you administer Outlook for iOS or Android, use the managed-device app-configuration channel for Outlook’s browser controls. The configuration key com.microsoft.outlook.Settings.OpenLinks.UseSystemDefaultBrowser controls forced system-browser handling. The key com.microsoft.outlook.Settings.OpenLinks.UserChangeAllowed controls whether users can change the exposed setting.
For policy-managed Outlook on iOS or iPadOS, open the applicable Intune app-protection policy’s Data protection settings and configure Restrict web content transfer with other apps. Choose Any app to permit browser choice or Microsoft Edge to restrict links to Edge. Choosing Unmanaged browser uses the configured Unmanaged browser protocol; organization approval and policy assignment govern availability.
For policy-managed Outlook on Android, configure Restrict web content transfer with other apps under the applicable Intune app-protection policy’s Data protection settings. Choose Any app to permit browser choice, Microsoft Edge to require Edge, or Unmanaged browser with the corresponding browser configuration. An administrator must change these organizational restrictions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Outlook mobile remember the browser I choose when opening a link?
Yes, when Outlook mobile offers the browser-choice card and policy permits selection, you can save your choice there. Tap a link in an email, turn on Remember my choice, then choose the system default browser or Microsoft Edge.
Can I make Chrome the default directly from Chrome on Android?
Yes, in Chrome for Android, open More > Make Chrome default, then select the button next to Chrome. Outlook must also use the system default for that choice to govern its links.
Does Chrome on iPhone or iPad have a shortcut to the browser default?
Yes, Chrome provides its own route into the device settings. Open More > Settings > Default Browser > Go to Settings... > Default Browser App, then select Chrome. Keep Outlook set to use the system default.
Can I use Outlook in a browser to get around a document link error?
Yes, if your account works with Outlook on the web, open Outlook on the web in your preferred browser, open the message and follow the document link there. This changes how you access the message and its link; it does not change the desktop Outlook app’s default browser.