Click a link in an MS Teams chat, or a Microsoft Outlook email, and the Edge browser pops up instead of Chrome or Firefox. Open a shared Word file, and the same thing happens. It’s not a glitch: Microsoft changed this behaviour deliberately back in August 2023, and both Teams and Outlook now decide which browser to use on their own, regardless of what’s set as the Windows default. The fix takes about two minutes once you know where to look.
Why Microsoft Teams Ignores Your Default Browser
Before mid-2023, links from Outlook and Teams simply obeyed whatever browser was set as default in Windows. Microsoft then rolled out an update that gave each app its own, separate link-opening setting, defaulting to Edge. The idea, according to Microsoft, was to let web links open in Edge’s “single sign-on” view so work accounts stay signed in automatically. Handy if you live in Edge; annoying if you don’t. The upshot is that changing your system-wide default browser in Windows Settings no longer touches Teams or Outlook. Each app needs telling separately.
Change Teams Settings
This is the setting that stops chat links, meeting invites, and shared web links from opening in Edge:
- Open Microsoft Teams.
- Click the three dots (…) next to your profile picture, top right.
- Select Settings from the menu.
- Click Files and links in the left-hand menu.
- Under Links open preference, find Always open web links in the dropdown.
- Change it from Microsoft Edge to Default browser (or pick a specific browser if Teams lists one).
While you’re in this menu, it’s worth checking the setting directly above it too. Always open Word, PowerPoint, and Excel files in controls whether shared Office files open in Teams itself, your desktop apps, or the browser. Set it to Desktop if you’d rather files open in the full version of Word or Excel instead of a cut-down web view.
How To Change Outlook Desktop Settings
Teams and Outlook Desktop have separate settings, so fixing one won’t fix the other. For Outlook:
- Open Outlook and go to File > Options.
- Select Advanced from the left-hand list.
- Scroll down to File and browser preferences.
- Change the browser dropdown from Microsoft Edge to your preferred browser, or leave it set to follow the Windows default.
- Click OK and restart Outlook for the change to apply.
Does This Fix Outlook On The Web?
No. Outlook on the web (outlook.office.com) opens links using whatever your operating system has set as the default browser, not the Outlook desktop app’s internal setting. If links from webmail are opening in the wrong browser, that’s a Windows-level default browser issue rather than a Teams or Outlook one, and it’s fixed through Windows Settings > Apps > Default apps instead.
Quick Reference
| App | Setting Path |
|---|---|
| Microsoft Teams | Settings > Files and links > Link open preference |
| Outlook (desktop) | File > Options > Advanced > File and browser preferences |
| Outlook on the web | Not controlled by Outlook — change your Windows default browser instead |
Troubleshooting
If the setting doesn’t change or doesn’t stick, a couple of things are usually to blame.
The Option Is Greyed Out
On a work or school-managed device, IT administrators can lock this setting with an organisation-level policy so it can’t be changed by individual users. If the dropdown is greyed out or missing entirely, you’ll need to raise it with your IT department rather than trying to force it through the Teams interface.
PDFs Or Other File Types Still Open In Edge
The Teams and Outlook settings only govern web links and Office files. If specific file types, PDFs especially, keep opening in Edge, that’s a separate Windows file association setting. Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for the file extension (such as .pdf), and set your preferred app there.
Conclusion
Two settings, two minutes, and Teams and Outlook stop hijacking every link for Edge. Change the Teams dropdown, change the Outlook one, and remember Outlook on the web plays by different rules entirely. If it’s still not sticking, it’s almost always a managed device with the setting locked down centrally, not something broken on your end.
Questions People Ask
Why does Microsoft Teams keep opening links in Edge?
Microsoft changed this behaviour in an August 2023 update. Teams and Outlook now use their own internal link-opening setting rather than following Windows’ default browser, and that setting defaults to Edge unless you change it manually.
Does fixing Teams also fix Outlook?
No. Teams and the Outlook desktop app each have their own separate setting, in different menus. You need to change both if links from both apps are opening in Edge.
Will this fix links from Outlook on the web?
No. Outlook on the web follows your Windows default browser setting, not an in-app preference. Change your default browser via Windows Settings > Apps > Default apps if that’s where the problem lies.
My Teams settings option is greyed out. Why?
This usually means your device is managed by a company or school IT department, and they’ve locked the setting through policy. You’ll need to contact IT to have it changed or unlocked.
I changed the setting but PDFs still open in Edge. What’s wrong?
The Teams and Outlook link settings only affect web links and Office documents. File types like PDFs are controlled separately through Windows Settings > Apps > Default apps, where you can set your preferred PDF reader.
Do I need to repeat this on every device I use?
Yes. This setting is stored locally per device rather than syncing with your Microsoft 365 account, so it needs setting again on any other PC, laptop, or work device you sign into Teams or Outlook with.
Does this affect links from SharePoint or OneDrive too?
Links opened directly from a SharePoint or OneDrive web page follow your Windows default browser. It’s specifically links and files shared inside Teams chats, channels, and Outlook emails that use the separate in-app setting covered above.
