How to Stop Microsoft Edge from Opening Links Automatically in Windows
Honestly, one of the most annoying things I’ve run into is Windows’s persistence in opening links in Edge — even when it’s no longer your default browser. Click on a link, and suddenly Edge appears out of nowhere. It’s really frustrating, especially if you prefer to use Chrome or Firefox as your main browser. I spent ages trying to sort this out, and honestly, it’s not as simple as just changing your default browser.
The core of the problem is that Windows automatically assigns the HTTP and HTTPS protocols (and maybe a few others) directly to Edge by default. So, no matter what browser you set as your default, sometimes those protocol handlers stubbornly stay connected to Edge. The options to change these are tucked away in settings, and if they’re not there or don’t seem to update, you might need to dig a little deeper — such as editing the registry or using command-line tools.
Accessing the Right Settings — The Default Apps Menu
Start by clicking the Start menu and then the gear icon to open Settings. If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, press Win + I. Once in Settings, select Apps — Microsoft makes this a bit tricky on purpose, it seems. Then, click on Default apps from the sidebar. Here, you can specify which app handles each file type or protocol.
To adjust protocol handlers, there’s a bit of a workaround — because Microsoft doesn’t make it obvious. Use the search box in this menu and type “Edge.” It’s a bit convoluted — they don’t always label things clearly — but this will highlight options related to Microsoft Edge. From there, look for entries associated with HTTP and HTTPS. These might still be set to Edge even if you’ve chosen a different browser as default.
Switching the Protocol Handlers to Your Preferred Browser
Click on HTTP. You should see a pop-up showing the current default — typically Microsoft Edge — and an option to select another app. Click that, and a list of installed browsers should appear. If your favourite isn’t listed immediately, you can click Look for an app in the Microsoft Store or Choose another app to browse your system manually. Most browsers, like Chrome or Firefox, are stored in C:\Program Files (x86)\ or C:\Program Files\. For Chrome, it’s usually located at C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe. Find the executable, select it, and then click Set as default.
Repeat the process for HTTPS. Sometimes, Windows resets these protocol associations separately after major updates, so it’s worth checking every now and then, especially after installing cumulative updates. Once you set HTTP and HTTPS to your preferred browser, clicking links should open in your chosen app instead of Edge.
Preventing Edge from Running in the Background or Launching at Startup
If Edge keeps popping up unexpectedly, even after fixing the protocol defaults, you might want to stop it from running in the background. Go to Settings > Apps > Startup, and see if Microsoft Edge is listed. If it is, toggle it off. This prevents Edge from launching automatically when Windows starts. You can also visit Settings > Privacy > Background apps and disable Edge from running in the background entirely.
If you want to go further, open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and look under the Processes tab for things like msedge.exe or MicrosoftEdgeUpdate.exe. Ending those processes can help, but be careful — you can also disable Edge’s update services or tweak policies via Group Policy Editor if you’re on Windows Pro or Enterprise. For most users, though, toggling settings suffices unless Edge keeps relaunching itself.
Advanced Fixes — Command Lines and Registry Tweaks
If nothing else works or you want a cleaner solution, you can set defaults via PowerShell commands or registry edits. For example, running this PowerShell command sets HTTP links to open with Chrome:
Set-ItemProperty -Path 'HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\http\UserChoice' -Name 'Progid' -Value 'ChromeHTML'
However, be aware that Windows might reset these settings during updates or system changes, so these tweaks aren’t foolproof. Also, editing the registry can be risky — a wrong move could cause issues elsewhere. In most cases, using the GUI to set your default browser is safer and usually enough.
Wrapping Up — It’s Your System, Your Rules
This stuff took me longer than it should’ve to figure out, but now I can click links without Edge hijacking every time. The trick is to change the protocol handler defaults for HTTP and HTTPS to your chosen browser. Also, make sure Edge isn’t set to launch at startup or run in the background. It’s a bit annoying how often Microsoft hides or resets these options after updates, but with a bit of persistence, it’s manageable.
Always check these settings again after big Windows updates, as defaults tend to revert. If Edge still causes headaches, you can even uninstall or disable it with PowerShell commands like Remove-AppxPackage Microsoft.MicrosoftEdge. Just be aware that doing so may sometimes affect system stability or cause other quirks.
Hopefully, this helps save someone else a weekend of frustration. It’s a bit of a hassle at first, but once everything’s set up, it’s smooth sailing from there.