Remove microsoft-edge:// links from Windows

[FormularSumo]

Description

Windows 11 and 10 use microsoft-edge:// prefixed URLs in various parts of the operating system to force web links to open in Microsoft Edge, ignoring the user's default browser choice. Since November 2021, non-Microsoft browsers and apps are prevented from being able to open these links, meaning there is no way for a user to stop their default browser selection being ignored.

The Windows components and apps that use this link include:

• Windows Search Box (including Search Highlights - clickable images related to events happening on a particular day)
• Windows Widgets
• Windows Lockscreen tips, facts and tricks
• Microsoft Co-Pilot
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft Teams

Of these components and apps, only Outlook and Teams have a setting that can be changed to make them respect default browser chocie.

Outcome

• All Windows components and app using microsoft-edge:// links switch to using standard web links that open in the user's chosen default browser.
• microsoft-edge// links are removed from Windows entirely so that no future Windows componenets or apps can use them.