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Fix Email Links Asking to Install Outlook in Browser
Question details
Clicking mailto links in web browsers opens a prompt to install Outlook, despite having the classic desktop version of Outlook and Microsoft 365 already installed.
- Product
- Microsoft Outlook
- Device & OS
- Windows
- Scenario
- Clicking an email address (mailto link) on any webpage using Edge or Chrome.
- Observed behavior
- Instead of opening a new email draft in the installed desktop Outlook app, the browser opens a page prompting to install Outlook or redirects to the web version.
Verify that your Microsoft 365 subscription is active and that you have successfully logged into your classic desktop version of Outlook at least once.
Set Classic Desktop Outlook as the Windows Default App
Configure your Windows settings so that the operating system recognizes your installed desktop Outlook as the primary handler for all email links.
When Windows loses track of the default email application, web browsers may default to their own web-based handlers or prompt you to install a new client. Re-associating the 'mailto' protocol resolves this conflict.
Click the Start menu and select the 'Settings' gear icon, or press 'Windows Key + I' on your keyboard.
Go to 'Apps' in the left sidebar, then click on 'Default apps' on the right pane.
Under the 'Email' section, click on the current default application (it may say Mail, Edge, or Choose a default) and select your classic desktop 'Outlook' from the list.
Scroll down and click on 'Choose default apps by protocol'. Find 'MAILTO' in the list and ensure it is also set to classic desktop Outlook.
Configure Protocol Handlers in Edge and Chrome
Remove incorrect site permissions in your browser that force email links to open web pages instead of your desktop application.
Repair Microsoft 365 Installation
Fix corrupted registry entries or missing files in your Office installation that prevent Windows from detecting Outlook.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why do email links suddenly open the web version of Outlook?
This happens when your web browser's protocol handler for 'mailto' is hijacked by a web application (like Outlook.com) rather than pointing to your operating system's default local application.
Will reinstalling Microsoft 365 fix the mailto link prompt?
Reinstalling can fix corrupted registry keys, but usually, a simple Quick Repair via the Control Panel, combined with resetting Windows Default Apps, is enough to resolve the prompt without a full reinstall.
Can I use an email client other than Outlook for mailto links?
Yes. You can install any email client and set it as your default by going to Windows Settings > Apps > Default Apps, then selecting your preferred software under the Email category.
