How to Make Outlook Open Links in Chrome?

ByJim Miller

Microsoft Outlook is a popular email client used by millions worldwide.

If Google Chrome is your preferred browser, you can set Outlook to open all links in Chrome instead.

This allows you to access your email links conveniently without switching browsers.

Set Google Chrome as the Default Web Browser

Set Google Chrome as the Default Web Browser
Set Google Chrome as the Default Web Browser

To make Outlook open links in Chrome, you first need to set Chrome as your default web browser in Windows. Here is how to do it:

  1. Go to Windows Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
  2. Under Web browser, click the drop-down menu.
  3. Select Google Chrome from the list.

By setting Chrome as the default browser, all web links will now open in Chrome automatically.

Configure Outlook Link Handling

Additionally, you can configure Outlook to handle links specifically through Chrome:

  1. Open Outlook and go to File > Options > Mail.
  2. Click on Editor Options below Compose Messages.
  3. Go to Advanced > Web Options > Browsers tab.
  4. Choose Use my default browser under Default Web Browser.

This forces Outlook hyperlinks to follow your Windows default browser setting, which you've now set as Chrome.

Clear Outlook Cache and Cookies

Sometimes, Outlook may still open links in the wrong browser. To troubleshoot:

  1. Exit Outlook completely.
  2. Open Chrome settings > Privacy & Security > Clear Browsing Data.
  3. Choose the beginning of time and clear cached images/files from Outlook.
  4. Reopen Outlook and test link handling again. Clearing the cache fixes outdated browser data.

Restart Outlook and Your Computer

Restart Outlook and Your Computer  
Restart Outlook and Your Computer

If links still do not open in Chrome, try restarting both Outlook and your computer. This resets programs and ensures new browser settings apply:

  1. Close Outlook fully by right-clicking its icon on the taskbar and selecting Exit.
  2. Restart your computer.
  3. Once restarted, reopen Outlook.
  4. Test hyperlinks again by clicking them. They should now open in Chrome.

Reinstall Google Chrome

In rare cases, you may need to reinstall Chrome for full integration with Outlook:

  1. Uninstall Google Chrome completely from your Add/Remove Programs.
  2. Download the latest Chrome installer from google.com/chrome.
  3. Reinstall Chrome cleanly using all default settings.
  4. Set it again as the default web browser.
  5. Restart Outlook and test links. Reinstalling can fix software conflicts.

Update Outlook and Chrome Versions

Lastly, having the latest Outlook and Chrome updates can resolve compatibility issues:

  1. In Outlook go to File > Office Account to check for updates.
  2. In Chrome go to  ⋮ > Help > About Google Chrome for updates.
  3. Install all pending Outlook, Chrome, and Windows updates.
  4. Restart your computer once more for changes to fully apply.

Now try Outlook hyperlinks again – they should open directly within Chrome.

In summary, directing Outlook links to Chrome involves:

  1. Setting Chrome as the default Windows browser
  2. Configuring Outlook's link handling settings
  3. Clearing browser data caches
  4. Restarting both apps and your computer
  5. Reinstalling Chrome if necessary
  6. Updating Outlook, Chrome, and Windows

Conclusion

Following these troubleshooting steps will have Outlook reliably opening web page links within Google Chrome for smooth browsing.