Change your default browser in Outlook by updating your Windows or Mac settings, not through Outlook itself

Outlook doesn't have its own browser setting. When you click a link in an email, Outlook opens whatever browser your computer is set to use by default. To change which browser opens those links, you need to change your system's default browser setting — the same place where you'd set defaults for other file types and apps.

The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows or Mac, and the exact location has shifted in recent Windows versions. Both are straightforward once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • Outlook uses your system's default browser setting, so you change the browser through Windows Settings or Mac System Preferences, not through Outlook.
  • On Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and search for your desired browser to set it as default.
  • On Windows 10, the path is Settings > Apps > Default Apps, then scroll to "Web browser" and select a new one.
  • On Mac, open System Preferences > General and change the "Default web browser" dropdown at the bottom of the window.
  • After you change the default, links in Outlook and all other programs will open in your new browser.

Changing your default browser on Windows 11

Windows 11 reorganized the default apps settings, so the process is different from Windows 10. Open the Settings app (press the Windows key and type "Settings"), then select Apps from the left sidebar. Choose Default Apps.

You'll see a list of apps and file types. Search for the browser you want to use — type its name in the search box at the top. When you find it, click on it, and Windows will show you the file types and protocols it can handle. Click the browser name again to confirm it as your default. From that point on, links in Outlook will open in that browser.

If you don't see your browser in the list, it may not be installed. Download it first from the browser's official website, then return to Settings and search again.

Changing your default browser on Windows 10

Open Settings and go to Apps, then Default Apps. Scroll down until you see Web browser, which will show your current default. Click on it and a list of installed browsers will appear. Select the one you want to use.

Windows 10 may also prompt you to confirm the change with a dialog box. Click Switch anyway if it does. The change takes effect immediately, though you may want to close and reopen Outlook to ensure it recognizes the new setting right away.

Changing your default browser on Mac

Open System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Mac versions). Click General in the sidebar. Scroll to the bottom of the window and look for Default web browser. Click the dropdown menu and select the browser you want to use.

Close System Preferences and the change is complete. Links in Outlook and other apps will now open in your chosen browser. If Outlook was already open when you made the change, close it and reopen it to ensure the new browser setting takes effect.

What happens if your preferred browser isn't listed

If you don't see the browser you want in the default apps list, it probably isn't installed on your computer yet. Download it from the browser's official website — for example, Google Chrome from google.com/chrome, Firefox from mozilla.org, or Edge from microsoft.com/edge.

After installation completes, return to your default apps settings and search or scroll for the browser again. It should now appear in the list. Some browsers may require you to restart your computer before they show up in the defaults list, so if you don't see it immediately after installing, try restarting and checking again.

Why Outlook doesn't have its own browser setting

Outlook respects your system's default browser because Microsoft designed it to follow your computer's overall preferences. This keeps things consistent — if you've chosen Firefox as your default browser everywhere else, Outlook uses Firefox too, rather than forcing you to manage separate settings in each app.

The same principle applies to other programs that open links: your email client, your word processor, your chat app — they all use the system default unless you've specifically configured them otherwise. Changing the system default once fixes the behavior everywhere, which is simpler than hunting through settings in multiple programs.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default browser affect links in other programs?

Yes. Your system default browser is used by all programs that open web links — email clients, word processors, chat apps, and others. If you want different programs to use different browsers, you'll need to configure each program individually, though most don't offer that option and simply use the system default.

Can I set different browsers for different types of links?

Not through standard settings. Windows and Mac both use a single default browser for all web links. Some third-party tools exist that can route links based on rules you set, but they're not built into the operating system and require additional software.

What if I change my default browser and Outlook still opens the old one?

Close Outlook completely and reopen it. Sometimes the app caches the old browser setting in memory. If that doesn't work, restart your computer — this clears the cache and ensures all programs recognize the new default.

Do I need to restart my computer after changing the default browser?

You should close and reopen Outlook to be safe, though sometimes the change takes effect immediately. A full computer restart guarantees the change will work, but it's usually not necessary unless you installed a new browser and it doesn't appear in the defaults list.