Hyperlinks not working in Outlook? How to get reopen links in Outlook (2023)

The article explains why hyperlinks may not work in Outlook and offers several solutions to fix the problem. With these methods, you can easily reopen links in your Outlook emails no matter which version you're using: Outlook 365, 2021, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010, and earlier versions.

Imagine this... I used to open links in Outlook without any problem and all of a sudden the hyperlinks stopped working and every time you click on a link embedded in an email you get the error. in theperspective 2010yperspective 2007, the error message is as follows:

This operation was canceled due to restrictions on this computer. Please contact the system administrator.

AmOutlook 2019-365 perspective, the message is different, although its meaning is as vague and unclear as before:

Your organization's policies prevent us from doing this for you. For more information, contact your helpdesk.

Another possible error is this:General fault. The URL was: https://www.some-url.com. The specified file was not found by the system.

If this is the problem you have encountered, this article will help you resolve it quickly. Also find out why hyperlinks don't work correctly in your Outlook so you don't stumble over the same stone twice.

• Why you may not be able to open links in Outlook
• How to make hyperlinks work again in Outlook
  • Download Microsoft's Fix-it tool
  • Set Internet Explorer and Outlook as the default programs
  • Reinstall Chrome or Firefox
  • edit record
  • Reset Internet Explorer Settings
  • Import a registry key from another computer
  • restore your system

Why can't I open links in Outlook anymore?

The main reason why hyperlinks don't work in Outlook is the default Internet browser not being (correctly) registered with your operating system. Usually, this issue occurs after uninstalling Google Chrome or changing the default browser from Internet Explorer to Chrome or Firefox.

Note that the default browser can also be changed without your notification by a plug-in or a malfunctioning application that installs Chrome/Firefox along with its own files and makes it the default Internet browser, unless you uncheck the corresponding check box. And, of course, this option is not very noticeable, so it can be easily missed by anyone during installation. An obvious example of this type of program is Adobe Flash Player, which Chrome can install on both initial installation and updates. So please disable this option next time you update to avoid the hyperlink issue in your Outlook.

Well, this is the most common cause, although Outlook links can stop working in other scenarios and even for no apparent reason. Okay, you know you know the cause and consequences, let's see how to solve the problem.

How to fix hyperlinks not working in Outlook

We'll start with the simplest troubleshooting steps that require the least amount of time and effort. So it makes sense to follow the methods below in order and after trying each solution, see if you can reopen links in Outlook. These solutions work for all versions of Microsoft Outlook 365 - 2010.

Use Microsoft's Fix it tool

Fortunately, the folks at Microsoft are aware of the "Hyperlinks in Outlook not working" problem and have already found a solution. So the first thing to try is to download and run Microsoftrepair toolfor your version of Windows.

And even if you say "I'll do it myself!" type of person, I highly recommend that in this particular case, let Microsoft fix it. Firstly because it is a faster way, secondly because it is much safer and thirdly if something goes wrong you know for sure who is to blame : )

So give it a try and if the solution worked for you then congratulate yourself and you can close this page. If you still can't open links in Outlook, read on and try the other methods.

Set Internet Explorer and Outlook as the default programs

1. In Windows 7 and later, you can set the default programs by going toSwitchboard>standard programs> clickSet your default programs.
2. To chooseinternet explorerin themProgramlist and click theSet this program as defaultShortcut.
3. MeetMicrosoft Outlookin themProgramlist and also set it as default.

   In Windows XP you can do the same thing by going toControl Panel > Add and Remove Programs > Default Programs > Set Default Programs.

   (Video) How to Fix Microsoft Outlook Link Not Opening in Chrome - Open Outlook Email Hyperlinks in Chrome

   An alternative way to access "Set your default programs"Dialogue is clickingInternet Explorer icon Tools > Internet Options > Programs tab > Set Programs..

Restart Outlook and check if the hyperlinks work. If they don't reopen, move on to the next method.

Reinstall Chrome or Firefox

If the links in your Outlook stop working after you've done thisGoogle Chrome (or Firefox) was uninstalled while it was set as your default browserPlease try setting IE as default before uninstalling another browser to avoid the issue. This is what you do:

1. Reinstall Chrome or Firefox, whichever was previously set as the default browser. Download links along with detailed instructions are here:
   • Download Google Chrome
   • download firefox
2. Set Chrome/Firefox as default browser.
3. Check if hyperlinks work in Outlook.
4. If you can now open Outlook links, you can safely set Internet Explorer as your default browser. To do this, open Internet Explorer and click on theToolSymbol> Internet Options. Then navigate toProgramtab and click theCreate default button. clickOKand close Internet Explorer.
5. Uninstall Google Chrome or Firefox when you no longer need them, and hopefully you'll never have any problems with links in your Outlook again.

Use:Before changing the default browser, please close Chrome/Firefox and make sure no chrome.exe or firefox.exe process is running in Task Manager when setting IE as default browser. To open the Task Manager, pressCtrl+Shift+Escor right-click on the taskbar and select "Start Task Manager".

Manually edit the registry

If hyperlinks in your Outlook no longer work after uninstalling Chrome, Firefox, or other applications (for example, HTML web editors) that open HTML files by default, it may help to disable HTM/HTML shortcuts in the change log.

Important!Be very careful when making changes to the system registry. If you work in a corporate environment, it might be a good idea to ask your system administrator or IT staff for help.

Before changing the registry, be sure to create a system restore point and make a full backup of your registry to be safe. The following step by step guide from Microsoft can be very helpful:How to backup the registry in Windows 8 - 11.

Now that you have taken the necessary precautions, you can proceed with the changes.

1. Type in the Windows search boxregeditar, and then click the Registry Editor application.
2. In the registry editor, navigate toHKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.html. Check if theStandardThe value of this key is htmlfile.
3. If heStandardit's worth itChromeHTMLoFirefoxHTML(depending on the browser you have installed), right-click on it and selectChange...
4. change thatStandardvalor ahtml file.
5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to.htmy .shtmlWrench.
6. Restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

The alternate way to make the same registry changes is to click thebeginningand enter the following command directly in the search line in Win 7 or Win 8. If you have an earlier version of Windows, click Start > Run, and then type the command in the Open box.

REG ADD HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.htm /ve /d htmlfile /f

Then enter a similar command to.htmy .shtmlWrench.

Reset Internet Explorer Settings

If you're still having problems with the links in your Outlook, try resetting your Internet Explorer settings.

1. Make sure your Outlook is closed.
2. Start Internet Explorer, click the Tools iconand chooseInternet Options.
3. Switch toProgressivetab and click thereset to default(If you're using Internet Explorer 6 or earlier, you'll find this option on the Programs tab.)
4. The Reset Internet Explorer Settings window opens and you select theDelete personal settingscheck box, and then clickreset to default.
5. press theFencewhen the reset process is complete.
6. be sure toSet Internet Explorer and Outlook as the default programs, as we discussed earlier in this article.
7. Close and reopen Internet Explorer, and then check if the hyperlinks in your emails, tasks, and other Outlook items are working again.

Use:If you receive a message in Internet Explorer asking you to make IE your default Internet browser, clickY. If you prefer a different browser, you can select it later as your default.

Import a registry key from another computer

If you recently upgraded to a newer version of Internet Explorer, the following registry key may be damaged or missing:HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command

You can fix this by importing it to the affected computer from another healthy computer.

Use:You must have administrator rights to import the log file. Also, be very careful when performing this operation. If you make a small mistake while importing the key manually, e.g. Copy it to/from the wrong registry branch, you may have very serious problems on your computer. If the worst case scenario happens, make sure you do itCreate a system restore pointfirst so that you are safe anyway.

Ok, now that I've given a word of caution and you've heard it (hopefully :), go to another computer that has working Outlook links and do the following:

1. Export the registry key from the computer that has no problem with the shortcuts in Outlook.

• Open the registry editor. As you remember, you have to click onbeginningbutton touchregeditarand then pressGet into.
• Find the following registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command
• Right click on thedomainsubkey and selectExportfrom the context menu.

Alternatively, you can switch to Windows 7 or Windows 8office hourmenu and clickExport...there. In earlier operating systems, theExportThe option may be in theRecordMenu.

• Enter a file name that is easy for you to remember, e.g. "Exported Key" and save the registry branch to a folder.
• Close the registry editor.

2. Import the registry key to the problem computer.

This step is probably the easiest we've done today. Simply copy the exported registry key to the desktop (or any folder) on the affected computer, then double-click the .reg file.

3. Make sure the default value of the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \.html key is htmlfile.

To verify this, click the Start button again, typeregeditarto open Registry Editor, and then go to theHKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \.htmlWrench. We did these surgeries several times today so I think you can now turn it upside down :)

If heStandardThe value of this registry key is different fromhtml file, change it the same way we discussed inEdit the registry manually.

Well, you have spent quite some time trying to fix this problem and hopefully the hyperlinks are now working again in your Outlook without any problem. If, contrary to expectations, the problem persists and you still cannot open links in Outlook, please do a system restore as a last resort.

Perform a system restore

System Restore is a way to undo recent changes to your computer's system in order to restore it to an earlier point in time.

You can open System Restore by clickingbeginningbutton and entersystem recoveryin the search field. then clickGet intoor wait a bit and choosesystem recoveryfrom the results list.‌

In the System Restore dialog, you can go with theRecommended Recovery"options or "Please choose a different restore point"if you are sure everything worked including hyperlinks in Outlook.

And that's all I have to say about this problem. I hope you find the article useful and one of the above methods worked for you. If hyperlinks still aren't working in your Outlook emails, please drop us a comment and we'll try to figure out the cause and open your links as they should. Thank you for reading!

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