Microsoft Policy Change Affecting Web Links

Stacie Nelson | May 15, 2023

This article applies to IT personnel that are managing Microsoft accounts.

Microsoft has announced a planned change to Outlook on Windows that will be active by the end of May. This change will also apply to the Teams application on Windows at a future date (TBD). The change will cause web links clicked in the Outlook for Windows app to open in Microsoft Edge in a single view, showing the opened link side-by-side with the email it came from, regardless of the default web browser the person has set.

OTDI will be making a change to the Office Cloud policy in the university’s Microsoft 365 settings that will prevent this planned changed from applying. This will honor the individual’s chosen default web when opening web links.  The Office Cloud Policy will apply to Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise office installations used with your lastname.#@osu.edu and lastname.#@buckeyemail.osu.edu accounts.

For any machines running volume licensed versions of Office that use Click-to-Run, such as Office LTSC Professional Plus 2021 or Office Standard 2019, you will need to apply an updated GPO and specific setting if you wish to alter the planned behavior change. 

The Choose which browser opens web links setting is included an the updated Office GPO ADMX file, available here: Download Administrative Template files (ADMX/ADML) for Microsoft 365 Apps for enterprise/Office LTSC 2021/Office 2019/Office 2016 and the Office Customization Tool for Office 2016 from Official Microsoft Download Center. This setting will apply to the Teams App web link behavior change when it is released also.

Available values for the setting are:

  • To open web links from the Outlook for Windows app using the system default browser (current default behavior): Enable the policy and select "System default browser" from the policy options. This is OTDI’s recommended setting.
    • Users will not be able to disable or change this setting.
  • To open web links from the Outlook for Windows app using Microsoft Edge (future default behavior): Enable the policy and select "Microsoft Edge" from the policy options.
    • Users will not be able to disable or change this setting.
    • Users will receive a notification of this change on the first occurrence.
  • To allow users to manage the change: Disable the policy or leave the policy unconfigured. Please note that the future default behavior for web links will be to open in Microsoft Edge.
    • Users will see a notification informing them of this change on the first occurrence. This notification provides users with the option to learn more about the change, accept it, or to manage the change. An example of the user notification experience is provided below.
    • The user’s selection will also apply to the experience in Teams once it arrives.
    • Users may manage this setting at any time in the Outlook for Windows app via File > Options > Advanced > Link Handling. When the experience in Teams arrives, users will also be able to manage this setting within the Teams app.

If you have any questions regarding this change, please contact the IT Service Desk by calling 614-688-4357, emailing servicedesk@osu.edu or visiting Self Service.