How to force Windows 10 to use your default browser with EdgeDeflector

Edge Dev Hero 2020 Newfeature
Edge Dev Hero 2020 Newfeature (Image credit: Daniel Rubino / Windows Central)

Microsoft Edge may be one of the best Windows apps, but that doesn't mean people want to be forced to use it, and, unfortunately, parts of Windows 10, and even Windows 11, ignore your default browser settings. For example, if you click on a link within a widget on Windows 11, it will open in Edge regardless of what's set as your default browser. You can get around this by using EdgeDeflector, a third-party app that redirects all links to your default browser. If you need help swapping your browser settings, you can follow our guide on how to set any browser as default on Windows 10.

How to make Windows use your default browser all of the time

  1. Go to the EdgeDeflector releases page on GitHub.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Click EdgeDeflector_install.exe.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Double-click EdgeDeflector_install from File Explorer.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Click Install.

Once you install EdgeDeflector, it will open a website with steps on how to make it work. We'll break down the same steps here:

  1. Open the Settings app on your PC.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Select Apps.

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Select Default apps

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Select Choose default apps by protocol (note that you'll have to scroll down to see the option).

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Scroll down to find MICROSOFT-EDGE and select the icon next to it (this will likely be Microsoft Edge).

Source: Windows Central (Image credit: Source: Windows Central)
  1. Select EdgeDeflector.

EdgeDeflector is now set up. You can test that it's working by clicking on a link that took you to Edge regardless of your default browser settings. You can also go to microsoft-edge:https://www.ctrl.blog to test that EdgeDeflector is working.

Some point out that EdgeDeflector shouldn't be necessary and that Microsoft should just make Windows follow your default browser settings. While that may be the case, EdgeDefelctor runs quietly in the background and only needs to be set up once.

Sean Endicott
News Writer and apps editor

Sean Endicott brings nearly a decade of experience covering Microsoft and Windows news to Windows Central. He joined our team in 2017 as an app reviewer and now heads up our day-to-day news coverage. If you have a news tip or an app to review, hit him up at sean.endicott@futurenet.com.