The Complete Guide to Installing and Configuring MSEdgeRedirect
Microsoft Windows frequently forces specific links—like those from the Start Menu search, Widgets, and Weather—to open exclusively in Microsoft Edge. Even if you set your default browser to Chrome, Firefox, or Brave, Windows bypasses your choice using a special microsoft-edge:// protocol.
MSEdgeRedirect is a lightweight, open-source tool that fixes this behavior. It intercepts these forced links and redirects them instantly to your preferred default web browser. What is MSEdgeRedirect?
MSEdgeRedirect is a background service that monitors Windows for link requests meant for Microsoft Edge. Unlike older tools that modified system files or web layout engines, MSEdgeRedirect filters the command-line arguments of Windows processes. This makes it a safer, more permanent solution that does not break during regular Windows updates. Step 1: Download the Software Open your current web browser. Navigate to the official MSEdgeRedirect GitHub repository.
Click on the Releases section on the right side of the page.
Download the latest .exe installer file (usually named MSEdgeRedirect.exe). Step 2: Install MSEdgeRedirect Locate the downloaded file in your Downloads folder. Right-click the file and select Run as administrator.
If a Windows SmartScreen warning appears, click More Info and then Run anyway.
Accept the license agreement to launch the installer interface. Step 3: Choose Your Installation Mode
The installer will present you with two primary modes of operation:
Service Mode (Recommended): Runs as a lightweight background service for all users. It requires administrator privileges but offers the fastest, most reliable performance.
Active Mode: Runs as a standard application in the system tray for the current user only. Choose this if you do not have administrative access to the PC. Select Service Mode and click Next. Step 4: Configure the Redirection Settings
The configuration screen allows you to customize exactly what MSEdgeRedirect handles. Toggle the following options based on your preferences:
Edge Links: Redirects standard microsoft-edge:// protocol links (Start Menu search results).
Bing Search: Changes search queries from Bing to your default browser’s search engine (e.g., Google or DuckDuckGo).
Weather & Widgets: Forces MSN Weather and Windows Dashboard widgets to open in your default browser.
PDF Viewer: Prevents Windows from opening PDFs in Edge if you have another PDF reader installed. Step 5: Select Your Target Browser and Search Engine
Default Browser: Choose Default System Browser to let MSEdgeRedirect automatically use whatever browser you currently have set as your primary choice. Alternatively, you can explicitly select Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Brave from the dropdown menu.
Search Engine: If you enabled the Bing Search redirection, choose your preferred search replacement (Google, Yahoo, DuckDuckGo, or EcoSia). Click Install to finalize the process. Step 6: Verify the Setup
To ensure the software is working correctly, perform a quick test:
Press the Windows Key on your keyboard to open the Start Menu. Type any search phrase (e.g., “current time”).
Click on the web result that appears on the right side of the search pane.
Verify that the link opens directly in your preferred web browser rather than Microsoft Edge. How to Modify Settings or Uninstall
If you ever need to change your configuration or remove the tool:
To Change Settings: Open your Start Menu, search for MSEdgeRedirect Settings, and run the configuration tool to adjust your preferences.
To Uninstall: Navigate to Windows Settings > Apps > Installed Apps. Locate MSEdgeRedirect in the list, click the three dots next to it, and select Uninstall. If you ran into any issues during setup, let me know:
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