Edge tries to pass the shortcut to Outlook, resulting in an "office.com page can't be found" error

Linson, Albert W 0 Reputation points
2026-10-21T20:42:26.56+00:00

Hello

I was directed to you guys at microsoft to restore missing files from my down load folder that have been corrupted

My system-level .lnk (shortcut) file associations have become corrupted and are linked by Microsoft Edge."

Edge tries to pass the shortcut to Outlook, resulting in an "office.com page can't be found" error

 

Microsoft Edge | Other | Windows 10

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  1. AI answer

    2026-10-21T20:43:15.2366667+00:00

    Use System Restore to return Windows shortcut associations and registry settings to a restore point from before .lnk files began opening through Edge or Outlook.

    1. Restore the shortcut associations

    System Restore rolls back system files, registry settings, installed applications, and configuration changes without deleting personal files. Applications, drivers, or updates installed after the selected restore point can be affected.^1^

    1. Press Windows key + R.
    2. Enter: 
         rstrui.exe
    3. Select Next.
    4. Enable Show more restore points, if available.
    5. Choose a restore point dated before the shortcut problem began.
    6. Optionally select Scan for affected programs to see what will be rolled back.
    7. Select Next > Finish. Windows will restart automatically.

    Afterward, test:

    • A normal desktop or Start-menu application shortcut.
    • An Office application launched directly from Start.
    • One of the affected downloaded shortcuts.

    Do not download a registry “.lnk association fix” from an unknown website. Incorrect registry changes can make Windows or other file associations unusable.

    2. If no suitable restore point exists

    Repair the Windows component store and protected system files:

    1. Search for Command Prompt.
    2. Right-click it and select Run as administrator.
    3. Run these commands in order:
    DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

    Keep the window open until SFC reaches 100%, then restart Windows. DISM supplies repair files, while SFC scans protected Windows files and replaces damaged copies.^2^

    If shortcuts still fail but applications open correctly from Start, delete only the affected shortcuts and recreate them from the installed applications. That addresses damaged shortcut files without altering the applications themselves.^3^

    If the applications themselves fail when launched directly, repair Office:

    1. Right-click Start.
    2. Select Installed apps in Windows 11 or Apps and Features in Windows 10.
    3. Find Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365.
    4. Select Modify—or the three dots and then Modify.
    5. Choose Online Repair > Repair.

    Online Repair repairs the entire Office suite and is more comprehensive than Quick Repair.^4^

    3. Recover the missing Downloads files separately

    Fixing .lnk associations will not restore deleted files, and Windows File Recovery is intended for files deleted from local storage—not files that remain present but contain corrupted data.

    First check Recycle Bin and any available backup. If the files were deleted and are not recoverable there:

    • Minimize use of the source drive immediately, because new writes can overwrite recoverable data.
    • Install and run Windows File Recovery.
    • Save recovered files to a different physical drive, such as a USB drive. The source and destination cannot be the same partition.^5^

    For example, if the missing files were in the Downloads folder on C: and the recovery destination is USB drive E::

    winfr C: E: /regular /n "\Users\<username>\Downloads\"

    Replace <username> with the folder name shown under C:\Users. If Regular mode finds nothing, try:

    winfr C: E: /extensive /n "\Users\<username>\Downloads\"

    Windows creates a Recovery_<date and time> folder on the destination drive. If the files are still present but cannot be opened, Windows File Recovery is not a repair tool for their contents; restore known-good copies from backup instead.

    Outlook-specific exception

    If the error occurs only inside classic Outlook at More Apps > Shortcuts > Microsoft Office Online, it is a separate, fixed Outlook issue. Right-click Microsoft Office Online there and select Delete Shortcut. New Office installations and new Outlook profiles no longer include that link starting with Version 2309, Build 16816.10000.[^6^](https://support.microsoft.com/support/known-issues/script-error-in-outlook-when-clicking-microsoft-office-online-from-the-shortcuts-function "Script Error in Outlook when clicking "Microsoft Office Online" from the Shortcuts function | Microsoft Support")

    References

    1. System Restore | Microsoft Support
    2. Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files | Microsoft Support
    3. when i click on any office shortcut, there is no response - Microsoft Q&A
    4. [Windows 10](https://support.microsoft.com/office/lifecycle/something-went-wrong-error-when-you-try-to-start-a-microsoft-365-app)
    5. Windows File Recovery | Microsoft Support
    6. Script Error in Outlook when clicking "Microsoft Office Online" from the Shortcuts function | Microsoft Support
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  2. Hendrix-V 20,785 Reputation points Microsoft External Staff Moderator
    2026-10-22T04:14:53.03+00:00

    Hi Linson, Albert W,

    Since the existing reply already covers the standard Windows and Office repair steps, let's first determine whether the .lnk problem affects new shortcuts too.

    1. Right-click the desktop > New > Shortcut.
    2. Enter notepad.exe.
    3. Create the shortcut and try opening it.

    If this newly created shortcut also launches Microsoft Edge or produces the Office.com/Outlook behavior, please share what you see when opening it. That result will give us a more useful direction for further troubleshooting.

    I hope this test helps isolate the problem.

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