hyperlinks not working in Desktop Outlook

Question

hyperlinks not working in Desktop Outlook when I click on them

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Answer 1

If hyperlinks are not working in Desktop Outlook, it may be due to several reasons, including issues with your default web browser settings or restrictions set by your organization. Here are some steps you can take to troubleshoot the issue:

1. Reset Internet Explorer Settings: If you are using Internet Explorer, resetting its settings can often resolve hyperlink issues. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Advanced > Reset. Make sure to select Delete personal settings and then click Reset.
2. Set Default Programs: Ensure that Microsoft Outlook is set as the default program for handling email links. Go to Tools > Internet Options > Programs > Set programs and select Microsoft Outlook to set it as default.
3. Check for Security Updates: After installing certain security updates, you might encounter issues with hyperlinks pointing to Fully Qualified Domain Names (FQDN) or IP addresses. If this is the case, check if your Outlook version has any specific updates or patches available.
4. Registry Settings: For advanced users, checking the registry settings related to HTML file handling can be a solution. Make sure that the String (Default) value of the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.html key is set to "htmlfile".

If the problem persists after trying these methods, consider consulting your system administrator or contacting Microsoft Support for further assistance.

Answer 2

Dear David Burton

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Community. I understand you are having problems with hyperlinks not working in Desktop Outlook. Please follow these steps :   

Fix 1: Reset URL File Types  

In specific situations, it is simply not possible to distinguish which application is intended to deal with some file or protocols, e.g. HTTP or HTTPS. The hyperlink problem can be solved within minutes by resetting such file associations.  

1. To go to the Settings, press Windows key and I. Under Apps, go to Default apps.  

2. Scroll around and rap on Choose defaults by file type. Find .htm and .html extensions and ensure that they are tagged to your favorite browser (e.g. Microsoft Edge or Google Chrome).  

3. Do this with HTTP and HTTPS protocols under Choose defaults by link type.  

Fix 2: Choose Microsoft Edge as Your Default Web Browser  

The new Outlook version is highly integrated with Microsoft Edge. In case, your default browser is some other one, or it is corrupted, hyperlinks will not work in Outlook.  

1. Press Windows + I to Open Settings. Again, go to Apps > Default Apps.  

2. Open Microsoft Edge and click on it.  

3. Click Set default to set Edge as the default whenever dealing with any file type or links in a compatible system.  

Operating in Microsoft Edge will prevent the compatibility problem with Outlook after the feature update.  

Fix 3: Reset Microsoft Edge  

In case Edge is not opening links, and you have set Edge as your default browser, then the same browser might be causing the problem. The solution to this is usually to reset it to its default settings.  

1. Launch Microsoft Edge. Select three dots (…) in the upper-right corner, and open Settings.  

2. Go to the bottom and press Reset Settings > Restore settings to the default value.   Then, check by clicking Reset.  

This will eliminate troublesome settings or extensions that might cause interference in the handling of hyperlinks.  

Fix 4: Register DLL Files Again  

It is also possible to encounter broken or unregistered DLL files, which may prevent the opening of hyperlinks in Outlook. Hence, this can be solved by re-registering them in the Command Prompt.  

1. Search by typing “cmd” in Windows. To enable this feature, simply right-click on Command Prompt and click on Run as administrator.  

1. Key in the neat commands listed one at a time and hit the Enter key after each.  

Reboot your computer when it is done.  

Fix 5: Repair Outlook or MS Office  

In emails, hyperlinks can be an issue due to the corruption of the Outlook or Office installation files. Though the fix may be accomplished by repairing the application.  

1. Press Windows + I and click on Apps > Installed Apps.    
2. Locate Microsoft Office on the list, select the three dots, and select “Advanced options”.  
3. Then, choose Repair.  

Restart your PC by following the instructions on the screen. This will leave your Outlook files in a clean, trouble-free state.  

Fix 6: Check Your Browser Settings (Pop-up Blockers, JavaScript)  

All modern browsers are blocking pop-ups or scripts, which can have implications for link behavior in Outlook.  

1. First, visit the Browser settings and go to “Privacy and Security”.  

2. Now, hit the Site Settings option.  

3. Enable JavaScript; allow pop-ups and redirects to secure websites by enabling pop-ups and redirects.  

Test the hyperlinks of Outlook once again.  

Hence, wrong settings in browsers may block password scripts, which are important in opening URLs.  

   If the answer is helpful, please click "Accept Answer" and kindly upvote it. If you have extra questions about this answer, please click "Comment".      

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