MSEdgeRedirect

Based on the change log and some users’ personal experiences, it appears that somewhere between builds 22483 and 22494 of Windows 11 a new feature was introduced that essentially blocks any other browser than Edge from opening links. According to the Beta / RP insider build tester, the controversial feature is likely to be removed in the future.

In case this really bothers you and you want a quick workaround this nuisance, then MSEdgeRedirect might be a tool to try out. The developer claims that, unlike other similar tools, the app throws the command line parameters to your default browser.

The program does not have an interface, but that is not really a big issue given its nature or role. The app is as simplistic as it gets and it is designed on a simple set and forget principle. More precisely, download the app, launch it and it will work in the background making sure that it filters and passes all Edge processes into your default browser of choice.

It is worth mentioning that the program is not perfect and there are several issues that you are likely to experience with it. For instance, one user claimed on Reddit that the tool does not work with the news section from Widgets. Although it is not a highly used feature, there might be a fix for it in the future.

Another known issue that is being looked into is the high CPU usage when running idle, which may affect certain PC configurations more than others. Hopefully, we’re gonna see performance improvements in the near future.

If you are having a hard time with Edge hijacking URL links and would like to block it from opening most of the links you are accessing, then perhaps you can consider giving MSEdgeRedirect a try.