When I click on a link in Outlook, my computer gets directed to the website in Duck Duck Go which does not allow extensions. My web browser is Duck Duck Go (DDG), but when I click on a link in an Outlook e-mail, I want my computer to be directed to DDG.

Carl Neighbors 0 Reputation points
2026-11-11T15:13:49.5566667+00:00

When I click on a link in Outlook, my computer gets directed to the website in Duck Duck Go which does not allow extensions. My web browser is Duck Duck Go (DDG), but when I click on a link in an Outlook e-mail, I want my computer to be directed to DDG. This happened within the last couple of days. Is there any way that I can stop my computer from directing the computer to Duck Duck Go when I click on a link in an Outlook E-mail? Thanks in advance.

Carl

Outlook | Windows | Classic Outlook for Windows | For home
Answer accepted by question author

AI answer

2026-11-14T16:31:34.26+00:00

In classic Outlook, select File > Options > Advanced > File and browser preferences, then set Open hyperlinks from Outlook in to Microsoft Edge.

Change the Outlook setting

  1. Open Outlook.
  2. Select File > Options > Advanced.
  3. Scroll to File and browser preferences.
  4. For Open hyperlinks from Outlook in, select Microsoft Edge.
  5. Select OK, close Outlook, and reopen it.
  6. Click a link in an email; it should now open in Edge rather than the DuckDuckGo browser. This setting specifically controls links clicked in Outlook.^1^

If Microsoft Edge is not offered in Outlook

Set Edge as the Windows default browser:

  1. Open Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Under Set defaults for applications, select Microsoft Edge.
  3. Next to Make Microsoft Edge your default browser, select Set default.
  4. Restart Outlook and test an email link again.^2^

Then return to Outlook > File > Options > Advanced > File and browser preferences and choose Default browser if that is the available choice. Outlook can use either Microsoft Edge directly or the browser configured as the Windows default.^3^

Changing this Outlook preference can also affect the corresponding link-opening preference in Microsoft Teams.

References

  1. Advanced options in classic Outlook for Windows | Microsoft Support
  2. Change Default Apps in Windows | Microsoft Support
  3. Web links from Outlook emails and Teams chats open in Microsoft Edge | Microsoft Support
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  1. Emma1-N 15,165 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-11-12T00:23:59.3+00:00

    Welcome Carl Neighbors,

    Thank you for reaching out to Microsoft Q&A.

    I understand that links in your Outlook emails have recently started opening in DuckDuckGo, and you would like to change this behavior.

    Before proceeding, could you please clarify whether you want Outlook links to open in DuckDuckGo or in a different browser, such as Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome?

    In the meantime, you can check your Outlook browser preference:

    • Open classic Outlook.
    • Select File > Options > Advanced
    • Under File and browser preferences, locate Open hyperlinks from Outlook in
    • Check whether it is set to Microsoft Edge or Default Browser

    You can refer to Microsoft's official documentation:

    Advanced options in classic Outlook for Windows

    Looking forward to your update.

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    1 person found this answer helpful.
  2. Carl Neighbors 0 Reputation points
    2026-11-14T16:44:21.1166667+00:00

    Emma1-N, thank you for your reply. I checked and apparently I had chosen DuckDuckGo as my default web browser. I changed it to Edge, and now when I click on a link in an e-mail, my computer does not get sent to the DuckDuckGo page. Thank you very much!

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  3. Carl Neighbors 0 Reputation points
    2026-11-14T16:38:31.04+00:00

    Emma1-N, thank you for your reply. I checked and hyperlinks in Outlook are opening in Microsoft Edge. But, when I click on a link in an Outlook e-mail, the page does not look like it did a few days ago. It has no ribbon at the top of the page and there is no bar at the top of the page to enter a web address, etc. And, the top of the page has a little "flame" icon that is use by DuckDuckGo to delete tabs.

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