With Windows 11, Microsoft went a step further to force users to stick with the Edge browser. Notably, the company has made the process of changing the default browser more complicated than it was in Windows 10. But even if you switch to your favorite web browser, there are certain aspects of the operating system, such as the new widgets panel with Windows 11. it doesn’t respect your default browser and doesn’t open the link in Microsoft Edge. This can be frustrating, so in this article we’ll show you how to force Windows 11 to open all links in your browser of choice.
Force Windows 11 to Open Links in Your Default Browser (2021)
Apart from forcing the default browser preference, we’ve included instructions for using your preferred search engine every time you use Windows Search to browse the web. So be sure to read till the end to find out everything you need to know to take control of your browsing habits in Windows 11.
Download and install EdgeDeflector
1. We will use a free app called EdgeDeflector so that you can use your favorite browser without any interference from Microsoft. You can download EdgeDeflector from GitHub. Under the Versions section, click ‘EdgeDeflector_install.exe‘ to download the application.
2. After downloading, open the installer and Click ‘Install’ To start using EdgeDeflector.
Configure EdgeDeflector to Open Links in Default Browser
1. To start using EdgeDeflector, you must first configure it. So, open the Settings app using the Windows 11 keyboard shortcut ‘Win + I’, switch to the ‘Applications’ section from the left sidebar and Click on ‘Default apps’ in the right pane.
2. From the list of applications, Find EdgeDeflector and Click on the ‘MICROSOFT-EDGE’ connection typeas shown in the picture below.
3. When the popup appears, select ‘EdgeDeflector’ from the list of options and you’re ready. Any links you open on your Windows 11 PC should now match your default browser preferences.
4. For example, see the demo below, where I opened an article from the Windows 11 widget panel. The MSN news link automatically took me to my default browser, Firefox. Without EdgeDeflector this link would open in Edge.
Change Default Browser in Windows 11
If you’re wondering how to change your default browser in Windows 11, we’ve got you covered. Open the Settings app and set course in this direction Applications -> Default applications -> [your browser of choice] and select all relevant connection types. We also have a dedicated guide with step-by-step instructions for changing the default browser in Windows 11.
Use Preferred Search Engine in Windows Search with Chrome
Microsoft often uses Bing when browsing the web using Windows Search. However, you can choose to use any search engine you want by using a Chrome extension. Here are the steps to use your preferred search engine in Windows Search:
note: Note that Chrome must be your default browser for the feature to work as intended. You can check the above section to change the default browser in Windows 11.
1. Chrometana Pro is an open source extension that you can use to force Windows 11 to use Chrome and your preferred search engine when using Windows Search. You can download Chrometana Pro (free) extension from the Chrome Web Store. Click ‘Add to Chrome’ To install the extension.
2. When the popup appears, click ‘Add extension’ to confirm your action.
3. Once installed, click the extension’s icon to configure it. Here you can choose to forward Bing search queries to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, Baidu or do a custom search.
Use Firefox Preferred Search Engine in Windows Search
And for those using Firefox, there is an official Chrometana Pro port called Foxtana Pro. The steps to get started are similar to its Google Chrome counterpart.
1. First, you should: Download Foxtana Pro from the Firefox Add-ons website Click ‘Add to Firefox’.
2. From the in-browser popup, Click ‘Add’and Firefox will install the extension.
3. Then you can click the extension’s icon and choose your favorite search engine. Note that the extension will not consider your default search engine. Therefore, you will have to specify it manually from the Foxtana Pro settings.
Open Links In Your Favorite Browser In Windows 11
It’s over there. If you set everything right, you will no longer be bothered by Microsoft’s urge to continue using their own services. While you’re at it, check out our other articles on how to disable notifications, free up disk space, and use focus sessions to increase productivity, recommended in Windows 11. And if you have any questions, let us know in the comments section below.
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