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Fix OneNote on Android Opening Telephone Links in Web Browser

Amos Gikunda Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users are experiencing an issue where tapping a telephone number link in OneNote for Android incorrectly opens a web browser instead of the device's Phone app.

How to Fix OneNote on Android Opening Telephone Links in a Browser

Product: Microsoft OneNote
Device & OS: Android
Scenario: Clicking a telephone number link inside a note to initiate a phone call.
Observed behavior: The application launches the default web browser or displays an about:blank page instead of opening the phone dialer.

Before you start

Ensure your device's default Phone app is functioning correctly and that you have the latest versions of both Microsoft OneNote and your Android operating system installed.

Solution 1Recommended

Verify the Link Scheme and Reset Default Browser Settings

Ensuring the link uses the correct 'tel:' protocol and clearing default app preferences can force Android to prompt for the correct application.

Android relies on specific URL schemes to know which app to launch. If the link is formatted incorrectly, or if your web browser has aggressively taken over link handling, telephone numbers may fail to open the dialer.

Check the link format

Edit the link in OneNote to ensure it is formatted using the tel: scheme (e.g., tel:1234567890) rather than a standard web URL.

Open Android Settings

Go to your Android device's Settings app and navigate to the 'Apps' or 'App Management' section.

Clear default browser settings

Find your default web browser (such as Chrome or Brave) in the app list, tap 'Open by default', and select 'Clear defaults'.

Test the hyperlink

Return to OneNote and tap the telephone link again. When Android prompts you for an app to use, select your Phone app and choose 'Always'.

Verify the Link Scheme and Reset Default Browser Settings

Testing Links: You can test the same 'tel:' link in another application (like an email client) to determine if the bug is specific to OneNote or a system-wide issue.

Solution 2

Report the Bug to Microsoft

If the issue persists across different browsers and links, it is likely a regression bug within OneNote for Android that needs Microsoft's attention.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why do telephone links open an about:blank page on Android?

This usually happens when an application fails to properly hand off the 'tel:' URL scheme to the Android system. As a result, the default web browser tries to load the phone number as a web page, resulting in an about:blank or error screen.

How do I properly format a clickable phone number in my notes?

To create a functional clickable phone link, use the format 'tel:number' (for example, tel:+1234567890) in the address or URL field when inserting a hyperlink.

Can I change which app opens telephone links on Android?

Yes. You can change this by going to your Android Settings, selecting 'Apps', navigating to 'Default apps', and ensuring your preferred dialer is set as the default Phone application.

Is there a way to fix the OneNote link bug immediately if clearing defaults fails?

If clearing your browser's default settings does not resolve the behavior, it is likely an app-level regression in OneNote. There is no immediate fix until Microsoft releases an update addressing how the app processes URL intents.

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