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When Outlook opens in a browser, first identify what opened: an ordinary web link, a Word/Excel/PowerPoint file, the new Outlook app instead of classic Outlook, or Outlook itself as a browser-installed app. Each case has a different fix. In Windows, new Outlook has a Settings gear in the upper-right corner; classic Outlook uses the traditional ribbon with File and Options and does not have that gear.
Choose which browser opens ordinary links
Use these steps for ordinary http or https links, such as news sites, company websites, or online forms. Outlook can have its own browser preference, separate from Windows’ default-browser setting.
New Outlook for Windows
- Open Outlook and select the Settings gear in the upper-right corner.
- Select General, then Files and links.
- Under Open hyperlinks from Outlook in, choose the browser you want.
Choose the Windows default browser if Outlook should follow that setting, or select a specific browser.
Classic Outlook for Windows
- Select File, then Options.
- Select Advanced and scroll to File and browser preferences.
- Under Open hyperlinks from Outlook in, choose the browser you want.
- Select OK.
Changing the browser in Outlook does not necessarily change Windows’ default. Likewise, changing Windows’ default does not override a browser selected inside Outlook. See Microsoft’s guidance on web links from Outlook.
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Change the Windows default browser
If Outlook is set to use the Windows default browser, change that default in Windows:
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Search for your preferred browser, or search for the HTTP and HTTPS link types.
- Select the current default and choose the browser you want.
Windows can assign defaults by application, file type, or link protocol. See Microsoft’s instructions for changing default apps.
Stop Outlook links from opening with an Edge sidebar
Some Outlook and Edge installations use a side-by-side experience: a link opens in Edge while the email containing it appears in an Outlook pane or sidebar. This is an Edge feature and does not necessarily mean Outlook is damaged.
- Open Microsoft Edge and enter edge://settings/sidebar in the address bar.
- Under App and notification settings, select Outlook.
- Turn off Automatically open Outlook email context in the side pane.
To remove Outlook from the Edge sidebar, right-click its icon and select Hide from sidebar. For details, see Microsoft’s Edge and Outlook link guidance.
Make Word, Excel, and PowerPoint links open in desktop apps
A link to an Office document is different from an ordinary website link. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files stored on OneDrive or SharePoint can open in Microsoft 365 on the web.
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Classic Outlook
- Select File > Options > Advanced.
- Find File and browser preferences.
- Under Open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files using, choose Desktop.
- Select OK.
For a one-time choice, right-click the document link, select Open with, and choose the desktop application if it is listed. This preference applies to Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files hosted on OneDrive or SharePoint, not every file type or web link. See Microsoft’s instructions for opening file links in Office desktop apps.
New Outlook
Microsoft documents the desktop-file preference for classic Outlook and Microsoft 365 desktop apps; it is not the same as new Outlook’s ordinary hyperlink browser setting. If a OneDrive or SharePoint file opens in a browser, try one of these options:
- Open the file in OneDrive or SharePoint and select Open > Open in app.
- Right-click the email link and select Open with, if available.
- Use classic Outlook, where the desktop-file preference is available.
Desktop opening may not work if the required Office app is not installed, you are not signed in to Microsoft 365, the link points to a comment or slide inside a file, or the file is not stored on OneDrive or SharePoint. These are not necessarily Outlook configuration problems.
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Stop classic Outlook from redirecting to new Outlook
If launching classic Outlook opens new Outlook, redirection to the new app may be enabled.
- Open new Outlook and select the toggle in the upper-right corner.
- Choose Switch back to classic Outlook to make the change permanent, or Use classic Outlook this time for the current session.
If the toggle is missing, open Start, search for Outlook, and launch Outlook (classic), not the entry marked New. Microsoft notes that the toggle may be absent when classic Outlook is not installed. See Microsoft’s instructions for toggling out of new Outlook.
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Registry option if classic Outlook keeps redirecting
Use this only if classic Outlook is installed, the value already exists, and you have backed up the relevant registry key.
- Press Windows + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
- Go to Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook\Preferences.
- Double-click UseNewOutlook and set Value data to 0.
- Close Registry Editor and try launching classic Outlook again.
Do not create unrelated registry values or change other Office settings while troubleshooting.
Install or find classic Outlook
Many new Windows devices supplied from 2024 onward include new Outlook without classic Outlook. A generic Outlook icon does not prove that the traditional desktop program is installed.
- Open Microsoft’s Install or reinstall classic Outlook on a Windows PC page.
- Choose the appropriate language and select Download.
- Complete the installation and sign in with your account.
Microsoft supports running both versions side by side. To make them easy to distinguish, search for Outlook in Start, then pin the appropriate Outlook and Outlook (classic) entries to Start or the taskbar.
Check whether Outlook is a browser-installed app
Outlook.com and Outlook on the web can be installed as a Progressive Web App (PWA). A PWA opens in its own window but remains the web version of Outlook; it is not the classic or new Outlook Windows client.
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Microsoft Edge
- Sign in to Outlook.com or Outlook on the web.
- Select Settings and more (…), then Apps.
- Select Install this site as an app.
Google Chrome
- Sign in to Outlook.com or Outlook on the web.
- Select Customize and control Google Chrome (…).
- Select Install Outlook.
For more information, see Microsoft’s guide to using the web version of Outlook like a desktop app.
Repair new Outlook
If new Outlook is installed but opens incorrectly, shows a blank window, or fails to launch normally, try repairing its Windows app package:
- Open Start > Settings > Apps > Installed apps.
- Find Outlook, select its More button (…), then select Advanced options.
- Select Repair. If that does not help, select Reset.
These options are available only for apps that expose them. Reset can remove local app data and may require you to sign in again.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Outlook mobile: choose which browser opens links
On iPhone and Android, ordinary web links open in a browser. Outlook mobile’s setting chooses which browser handles the link:
- Open Outlook mobile and go to Settings.
- Select Open Links With.
- Choose Microsoft Edge or System default browser.
- If Outlook displays a choice card after you tap a link, enable Remember my choice.
The Open Links With setting may not appear when the app contains an Office 365 or Exchange account. See Microsoft’s Outlook mobile link-setting guidance.
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- Durable and Resilient: This full-size wireless keyboard features a spill-resistant design (2), durable keys and sturdy tilt legs with adjustable height
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Which fix applies?
| What happens | Likely fix |
|---|---|
| A website link opens in Edge or another browser | Change Outlook’s Files and links preference, then check Windows defaults. |
| A website opens in Edge with the email in a side pane | Disable Outlook’s automatic context opening at edge://settings/sidebar. |
| A Word, Excel, or PowerPoint link opens online | In classic Outlook, choose Desktop under File and browser preferences. |
| Classic Outlook launches new Outlook | Use the new-Outlook toggle and verify that Outlook (classic) is installed. |
| Outlook opens in a separate browser window | Check whether it is an Outlook.com or Outlook on the web PWA. |
| New Outlook will not launch correctly | Try Windows app Repair, then Reset if needed. |
FAQ
Why does Outlook open links in Edge instead of Chrome?
Outlook for Windows has its own hyperlink browser preference. In new Outlook, open Settings > General > Files and links. In classic Outlook, open File > Options > Advanced > File and browser preferences, then choose Chrome or the Windows default browser.
How do I make Outlook open Word and Excel files in the desktop app?
In classic Outlook, go to File > Options > Advanced > File and browser preferences. Set Open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files using to Desktop. This preference applies to supported files stored on OneDrive or SharePoint.
Why does classic Outlook keep opening new Outlook?
Redirection to new Outlook may be enabled. Open new Outlook and choose Switch back to classic Outlook. Also check Start for a separate Outlook (classic) entry; classic Outlook may not be installed.
Is Outlook in a browser the same as the Outlook app?
No. Outlook.com or Outlook on the web can be installed as a browser-based PWA. It may look like a desktop app, but it remains the web version and is separate from classic Outlook and new Outlook for Windows.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsWhy is Outlook showing in the Edge sidebar?
Edge can show the email that supplied a link in an Outlook side pane. Open edge://settings/sidebar, select Outlook under App and notification settings, and disable Automatically open Outlook email context in the side pane.
The bottom line
First distinguish ordinary website links from Office document links, Outlook-version redirection, and a browser-installed Outlook app. Change Files and links for ordinary hyperlinks, use classic Outlook’s desktop-file preference for supported OneDrive and SharePoint documents, and use the new-Outlook toggle if classic Outlook is being redirected. If Outlook opens in a standalone browser window, check whether it is an Outlook PWA.
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