In modern updates to Microsoft Teams for Windows and Mac, Microsoft introduced a default behaviour that automatically routes web links shared in chats and channels directly into Microsoft Edge. Even if you configured Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Apple Safari as your system-wide default web browser, clicking a hyperlink in Teams frequently bypasses your choice to launch alongside Edge’s sidebar pane.
This behaviour disrupts established browsing workflows, tab grouping, password autofill, and corporate single sign-on profiles. Fortunately, Microsoft Teams includes a dedicated link preference setting that restores adherence to your operating system default browser.
Configuring Teams to Open Links in Your Default Browser
Follow these steps to redirect external links back to your chosen web browser:
- Open the Microsoft Teams desktop client on your Windows PC or Mac.
- Click the Settings and more button (the three horizontal dots
...) located in the upper-right corner next to your profile picture. - Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
- In the left-hand settings column, click Files and links.
- Locate the section titled Link open preference.
- Click the drop-down menu next to Always open links in and change the selection from Microsoft Edge to Default browser.
- Close the Settings dialogue box.
Verifying System-Wide Default Browser Settings in Windows 11
If links in Teams continue opening in Edge after modifying the Teams setting, verify that Windows 11 has correctly registered your preferred browser across all core web protocols:
- Press Win + I to open Settings in Windows 11.
- Navigate to Apps > Default apps.
- Type your preferred browser name (such as Google Chrome or Firefox) in the search field and select it.
- Click the Set default button at the top to assign HTTP, HTTPS, .htm, and .html associations to your browser.
Handling Enterprise Policy Overrides
In managed corporate environments, IT organisations may enforce Edge link opening through Microsoft 365 administrative cloud policies. If the Link open preference drop-down appears greyed out with an organisation lock icon, contact your tenant administrator to request an exemption from the centralised Teams browsing policy.