I rely on several built-in Windows apps, but I hate that they force open links i?

[8dAH1b60M4mH]

I rely on several built-in Windows apps, but I hate that they force open links in Microsoft Edge. I've heard of tools like MSEdgeRedirect to change this, but I'm worried about stability. If I use such a tool, will it break or prevent my other apps—like the Start Menu search or widgets—from opening correctly? I want to set my default browser without causing new problems. Is there a safe method or an alternative program that won't disable core system functions?

[TtJhvjutcuM]

I totally get your concern—it's frustrating when a workaround creates bigger problems. The good news is that tools like **MSEdgeRedirect** (and the similar **EdgeDeflector**) are generally safe and stable. They work by intercepting the specific system calls that force-open links in Edge and redirecting them to your default browser instead. They shouldn't break core functions like Start Menu search or widgets.

For the safest, free method, I recommend this step-by-step approach:

1. First, properly set your default browser in **Settings > Apps > Default apps**.
2. Then, download the latest release of **MSEdgeRedirect** from its official GitHub repository.
3. Run the installer. It will guide you through setting which browser to redirect to and which link types (like "news://" or search links) to handle.
4. The tool runs quietly in the background and has been very reliable for many users.

These tools are focused *only* on the forced Edge links. Your other apps will function normally, as they rely on the default browser setting for regular web links. It's a very targeted fix.

Give MSEdgeRedirect a try—it's the community's go-to solution for this exact headache. Feel free to ask if you have any issues during setup

[8dAH1b60M4mH]

Awesome, working now. Thanks for the quick response!

[LEUzRK]

Glad that worked! To answer your new question, no, a good redirect tool shouldn't break those other features; they'll just open in your chosen browser instead.

[VxihW]

Same here. This happened to me. I used a redirect tool for months and my Start Menu search worked fine; links just opened in Firefox instead.

[oAXeqkTQEpsU]

Yeah, that's been my experience too. One extra tip: just make sure you keep the redirect tool updated when Windows gets major updates to avoid any hiccups.

[ygcjp]

Can confirm. You could also try setting your default browser in Windows Settings, since some apps now respect that choice. Another option is using Edge itself to change the default for specific links in its settings.

[DN1l04]

You could also check if any of those built-in apps have their own settings to change link behavior. Another option is using a registry tweak, but that's a bit more technical.

[kQcVCQLsBn]

+1 You could also try setting a different default browser in Windows settings, though some apps might still ignore it. Another option is to look into Edge's own settings, since it sometimes lets you pick where links open.