QUICK ANSWER

If Google Chrome is already your default browser in Windows 11, but clicking a hyperlink inside Microsoft Outlook Desktop still opens Microsoft Edge, your Windows default-browser configuration may not be the problem.

Microsoft Outlook can have its own hyperlink-opening preference. In supported versions of Outlook, it can be configured to open hyperlinks in Microsoft Edge instead of using the Windows default browser. Microsoft documents this setting under File and browser preferences.

For Classic Outlook, go to:

Outlook → File → Options → Advanced → File and browser preferences → Open hyperlinks from Outlook in → Default Browser

Restart Outlook and test a hyperlink again.

Also verify:

Windows 11 → Settings → Apps → Default apps → Google Chrome → Set default

Do not assume that entries such as READ, MMS, or Microsoft-specific protocols shown under Microsoft Edge must be changed to Chrome. For ordinary website links, the important associations are primarily HTTP, HTTPS, .htm and .html.

COMPLETE ARTICLE

The Problem: Chrome Is Default, but Outlook Keeps Opening Edge

A confusing situation can occur in Windows 11:

You have installed Google Chrome and selected it as your default browser. Normal browsing works correctly, but when you click a hyperlink inside Microsoft Outlook, the link opens in Microsoft Edge.

You may then check:

Settings → Apps → Default apps → Microsoft Edge

and find various protocols or link types associated with Edge, including entries such as:

• MMS
• READ
• Microsoft-specific protocol names

This can make it appear that Windows is ignoring your default-browser choice.

However, there are two different settings that need to be understood:

Therefore, it is possible for Chrome to be the Windows default browser while Outlook is configured to open links in Edge.

Why Does Outlook Open Links in Microsoft Edge?

Microsoft Outlook includes a setting called:

Open hyperlinks from Outlook in

Microsoft's documentation confirms that this option determines whether links clicked in Outlook open in Microsoft Edge or in your default browser.

This means the effective configuration can look like this:

Windows Default Browser
        ↓
Google Chrome

Outlook Hyperlink Preference
        ↓
Microsoft Edge

In this situation, setting Chrome as the Windows default browser alone may not change what happens when you click links in Outlook.

The solution is to tell Outlook to use the Default Browser.

Solution 1: Change Outlook from Microsoft Edge to Default Browser

This is the first setting you should check if the problem mainly occurs when clicking links inside Outlook.

Classic Outlook for Windows

Open Microsoft Outlook and go to:

File → Options → Advanced

Scroll down until you find:

File and browser preferences

Locate:

Open hyperlinks from Outlook in

If it is currently set to:

Microsoft Edge

change it to:

Default Browser

Then click:

OK

Close Outlook completely and reopen it.

Microsoft describes this option in its current documentation for Classic Outlook's Advanced settings.

Expected configuration

Your configuration should effectively become:

Open hyperlinks from Outlook in:
Default Browser

If Google Chrome is your Windows default browser, Outlook should then hand ordinary web hyperlinks to Chrome.

Solution 2: Verify Google Chrome Is Actually the Windows Default Browser

Even after changing Outlook, confirm that Windows itself has Chrome registered as the default browser.

In Windows 11, open:

Start → Settings → Apps → Default apps

Search for:

Google Chrome

Select Google Chrome.

Then click:

Set default

Google's current Windows 11 instructions use this same procedure and also recommend reviewing the individual file and link types to make sure the desired associations were applied.

Google Chrome Help — Make Chrome your default browser

Check HTTP and HTTPS Associations

After selecting Google Chrome under Default apps, review the associated link and file types.

For ordinary websites, pay particular attention to:

HTTP
HTTPS
.htm
.html

These should normally point to:

Google Chrome

For example:

Google's enterprise documentation likewise uses .htm, .html, http, and https when configuring Chrome as the default browser through Windows default-application associations.

What Is the READ Entry Under Microsoft Edge?

This is an important source of confusion.

When you open:

Settings → Apps → Default apps → Microsoft Edge

Windows can display many registered file types and URI/protocol handlers.

You may see entries such as:

MMS
READ
MS-XBL-...

along with many others.

These are not all ordinary web-browser associations.

Therefore, seeing:

READ → Microsoft Edge

does not by itself mean Microsoft Edge is your Windows default web browser.

For normal website hyperlinks, focus primarily on:

HTTP
HTTPS
.htm
.html

rather than attempting to replace every Microsoft Edge association.

Should You Change READ from Microsoft Edge to Chrome?

Generally, no.

If your actual problem is:

"When I click a normal website link in Outlook, it opens Edge instead of Chrome."

then changing the READ association is not the appropriate first fix.

Instead, check:

Outlook
   ↓
File
   ↓
Options
   ↓
Advanced
   ↓
File and browser preferences
   ↓
Open hyperlinks from Outlook in
   ↓
Default Browser

Then verify that Windows has:

HTTP  → Google Chrome
HTTPS → Google Chrome

Microsoft and other applications register specialized URI schemes for specific functions. There is usually no benefit in trying to force every Microsoft-specific protocol to Chrome.

Outlook Setting vs Windows Default Browser

Understanding the distinction makes troubleshooting much easier.

Windows level

Windows 11
   │
   └── Default Browser
          │
          └── Google Chrome

Outlook level

If Outlook contains:

Open hyperlinks from Outlook in:
Microsoft Edge

then clicking a link in Outlook may result in:

Outlook
   │
   └── Hyperlink
          │
          └── Microsoft Edge

Change Outlook to:

Open hyperlinks from Outlook in:
Default Browser

and the path becomes:

Outlook
   │
   └── Hyperlink
          │
          └── Windows Default Browser
                    │
                    └── Google Chrome

This is why repeatedly setting Chrome as default in Windows may appear to have no effect when the Outlook-specific setting is responsible.

Solution 3: Test Whether the Problem Is Outlook-Specific

After making the changes, perform a simple test.

Open a web link from several applications:

The results can help identify where the problem exists.

Scenario A: Only Outlook Opens Edge

If:

Outlook → Edge
Other programs → Chrome

the problem is very likely related to Outlook's browser/link preference rather than the Windows default browser.

Scenario B: Every Application Opens Edge

If:

Outlook → Edge
Adobe Reader → Edge
Other software → Edge
Windows links → Edge

then investigate the Windows HTTP/HTTPS default associations, management policies, or application-specific link handling.

Solution 4: Check Chrome's Own Default Browser Setting

You can also verify the setting from inside Chrome.

Open Google Chrome and go to:

Menu (⋮) → Settings → Default browser

Select:

Make default

Google states that when Chrome is configured as the default browser, links should automatically open in Chrome, subject to application-specific behavior and system configuration.

What About Word, Excel and PowerPoint Links?

There is another setting that should not be confused with the browser preference.

Microsoft 365 applications can also control whether certain Word, Excel and PowerPoint files open in:

• a browser, or
• their desktop Microsoft 365 application.

Microsoft documents this separately as the File open preference.

For example, in Outlook you may encounter settings for:

Open Word, Excel, and PowerPoint files using

and:

Open hyperlinks from Outlook in

These settings serve different purposes.

Example

A link to:

https://www.example.com

is a normal web hyperlink.

But a link to a Word document stored on OneDrive or SharePoint may be handled according to Microsoft 365's file-opening preferences.

Do not confuse the two settings when troubleshooting.

Solution 5: Restart Outlook After Changing the Setting

After changing:

Open hyperlinks from Outlook in → Default Browser

close Outlook completely.

Then reopen Outlook and click a normal HTTPS link from an email.

If Chrome opens, the problem is resolved.

If Edge still opens, continue with the Windows association checks.

Solution 6: Check for Organizational or Group Policy Control

This is particularly relevant on:

• business computers
• domain-joined PCs
• Microsoft Entra ID-managed computers
• RDS/Terminal Servers
• company-managed Windows devices

Administrators can deploy Windows default-application associations centrally.

Google documents an enterprise method using a Default Application Association XML to associate:

.htm
.html
http
https

with Chrome on managed Windows computers.

Therefore, if a user's browser selection keeps reverting, an administrator should investigate whether the computer is being managed through:

• Group Policy
• MDM/Intune
• Default App Associations XML
• other organizational browser policies

before repeatedly changing the browser manually.

Important

Do not modify organization-wide Group Policy merely to correct one workstation without first determining whether the policy is intentional.

A policy change could affect many users.

Administrator Example: Chrome Default Associations

For IT administrators, Google's documentation provides an example of the Windows default-association structure using Chrome's ChromeHTML ProgID.

A typical concept looks like:

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<DefaultAssociations>
  <Association Identifier=".htm" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier=".html" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="http" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
  <Association Identifier="https" ProgId="ChromeHTML" ApplicationName="Google Chrome" />
</DefaultAssociations>

This type of configuration is useful in managed environments where administrators need consistent browser associations across multiple Windows computers.

Warning: Do not deploy or modify a Default App Associations XML in a production domain without testing it first. Incorrect association policies can affect file and protocol handling for multiple users.

Recommended Troubleshooting Order

For the fastest diagnosis, use this sequence:

1. In Outlook, change Open hyperlinks from Outlook in to Default Browser.
2. Restart Outlook.
3. Go to Windows Settings → Apps → Default apps → Google Chrome.
4. Click Set default.
5. Verify HTTP, HTTPS, .htm and .html associations.
6. Test an ordinary HTTPS link from Outlook.
7. Test a link from another desktop application.
8. If only Outlook fails, investigate Outlook configuration.
9. If all applications open Edge, investigate Windows associations or organizational policies.
10. On managed/domain computers, check Group Policy or centrally deployed Default App Associations.

This approach is preferable to randomly changing every association currently assigned to Microsoft Edge.

Why Setting Chrome as Default May Not Be Enough

The phrase "default browser" can be misleading because applications may have their own link-handling preferences.

A simplified view is:

Application
     ↓
Does the application have its own browser preference?
     ↓
YES -------------------- NO
 ↓                       ↓
Use application          Use Windows
preference               default association

Outlook is an example where an application-specific setting can affect the browser used for hyperlinks.

Microsoft explicitly provides the choice between Microsoft Edge and the default browser in Outlook's Advanced settings.

Is Microsoft Edge Required by Windows?

Microsoft Edge is integrated with various Windows and Microsoft experiences, and Windows may therefore display Edge as the handler for specialized protocols.

That does not mean you must use Edge as your normal web browser.

Windows 11 allows users to select another browser such as Google Chrome as the default for ordinary browsing, and Google's current documentation provides the supported Windows procedure for doing so.

Therefore, avoid removing Edge or aggressively changing unrelated Microsoft protocol registrations simply to make Outlook links open in Chrome.

Changing the relevant supported settings is safer.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Screenshot Suggestions for This Article

For a knowledgebase article, the following screenshots would make the solution much easier for users to follow:

Screenshot 1: Windows 11 → Settings → Apps → Default apps → Google Chrome

Highlight:

Set default

Screenshot 2: Google Chrome file/link associations

Highlight:

HTTP
HTTPS
.htm
.html

Screenshot 3: Outlook → File → Options → Advanced

Highlight:

File and browser preferences

Screenshot 4: Outlook setting:

Open hyperlinks from Outlook in:
Default Browser

Screenshot 5: Microsoft Edge Default Apps screen showing entries such as READ, with an annotation explaining that these specialized entries do not necessarily determine the browser used for ordinary HTTP/HTTPS links.

FAQ

Why does Outlook open Microsoft Edge when Chrome is my default browser?

Outlook can have its own preference for opening hyperlinks. In supported Outlook versions, Open hyperlinks from Outlook in can be set to either Microsoft Edge or the system's default browser.

How do I make Outlook links open in Google Chrome?

First make Chrome your Windows default browser.

Then, in Classic Outlook, check:

File → Options → Advanced → File and browser preferences → Open hyperlinks from Outlook in → Default Browser

Restart Outlook afterward.

Do I need to change READ from Microsoft Edge to Google Chrome?

Normally, no.

For ordinary web links, concentrate on HTTP and HTTPS rather than attempting to replace every protocol registered to Edge.

Which Windows associations should I check for Chrome?

For standard web browsing, check:

HTTP
HTTPS
.htm
.html

Google includes these four associations in its enterprise documentation for configuring Chrome as the default Windows browser.

Why doesn't clicking "Set default" for Chrome fix Outlook?

Because Outlook may have an application-specific hyperlink preference configured to use Microsoft Edge. Change Outlook to Default Browser as well.

What if links from every program open in Edge?

If Outlook, PDF readers, third-party applications and other programs all send normal HTTP/HTTPS links to Edge, check the Windows default application associations.

On a company-managed computer, also investigate Group Policy, MDM, or a centrally deployed default-app association configuration.

Should I uninstall Microsoft Edge?

No. Removing Edge is unnecessary for solving this problem and may interfere with Windows or Microsoft features that depend on Edge components.

Use the supported Outlook and Windows default-browser settings instead.

Does this problem occur only in Outlook?

Not necessarily. Different applications can implement their own link-opening behavior. If the problem occurs only in Outlook, check Outlook first. If it occurs across many unrelated applications, investigate Windows HTTP/HTTPS associations and management policies.

How can an administrator make Chrome the default on multiple Windows computers?

In managed Windows environments, administrators can deploy default application associations. Google provides enterprise guidance for associating .htm, .html, http, and https with Chrome.

Test such policies before production deployment.

FINAL RECOMMENDATION / CONCLUSION

If Google Chrome is already your Windows 11 default browser but Outlook links keep opening in Microsoft Edge, do not start by modifying obscure entries such as READ.

The first setting to check is:

Outlook → File → Options → Advanced → File and browser preferences → Open hyperlinks from Outlook in → Default Browser

Then confirm:

Windows 11 → Settings → Apps → Default apps → Google Chrome → Set default

and verify that normal web associations such as:

HTTP, HTTPS, .htm and .html

are assigned appropriately.

If Outlook alone continues to use Edge, concentrate on Outlook's settings. If links from all desktop applications open in Edge, investigate Windows default-app associations and, on managed computers, Group Policy or other administrative configuration.

This troubleshooting method uses supported application and Windows settings and avoids unnecessary registry modifications or attempts to remove Microsoft Edge.

#Outlook #MicrosoftOutlook #OutlookDesktop #ClassicOutlook #Microsoft365 #MicrosoftEdge #GoogleChrome #Windows11 #Windows #DefaultBrowser #BrowserSettings #OutlookLinks #Hyperlinks #OutlookHyperlinks #Edge #Chrome #WindowsTips #OutlookTips #Microsoft365Tips #WindowsTroubleshooting #OutlookTroubleshooting #BrowserTroubleshooting #DefaultApps #HTTP #HTTPS #HTML #ChromeHTML #FileAssociations #ProtocolAssociations #WindowsSettings #ITSupport #ITAdministrator #SystemAdministrator #TechSupport #DesktopSupport #WindowsAdmin #GroupPolicy #GPO #ChromeEnterprise #MicrosoftOffice #Office365 #Email #EmailTroubleshooting #KnowledgeBase #TechnicalSupport #HowTo #WindowsGuide #OutlookGuide #ChromeTips #EdgeTroubleshooting