The Application Hand-off
Google Chrome is designed to integrate smoothly with the web ecosystem. When you click a link pointing to a specific service (like a Spotify playlist link or a Zoom meeting URL), Chrome often attempts to “hand off” the process. By default, it will either ask for permission or automatically launch the corresponding desktop application installed on your computer (e.g., automatically opening the Spotify desktop app instead of loading the Spotify Web Player). If you prefer to keep all your music and communication strictly contained within browser tabs to manage resources, this automatic app launching is highly disruptive.
Forcing Browser-Only Playback
To ensure links stay inside the browser and stop Google Chrome from automatically opening the Spotify desktop app (or any other external protocol handler), you must clear the “always open” preferences.
Unfortunately, Chrome hides the protocol handler list deep in the settings. The easiest way to fix a specific site like Spotify is to reset its specific permissions. Navigate to the Spotify Web Player (open.spotify.com). Click the small Padlock icon (or the site information icon) located on the far left side of the address bar. In the drop-down menu, select Site settings. A new tab will open displaying all permissions for Spotify. Look for a permission labelled “Pop-ups and redirects” or “Automatic downloads” and ensure they are blocked. If Chrome continues to force the desktop app open, you must clear your browsing data entirely (or specifically clear cookies and site data for Spotify) to erase the hidden “Always open these types of links in the associated app” preference you may have accidentally clicked in the past.