Microsoft is rolling out a new change to Microsoft Teams that alters how web links open inside the app. The update introduces a browser selection prompt that appears the first time a user clicks a non-Office or PDF link — and it places Microsoft Edge center.
A new “Links in Teams” setting changes link behavior
Microsoft is adding a new option called “Links in Teams” to the Teams settings menu. This control lets users choose which browser opens supported links, instead of relying on the operating system’s default browser behavior.
The company will not wait for users to find this setting manually. Teams will force a browser choice the first time a user clicks a non-Office or PDF link. A pop-up will appear immediately, asking the user to select how links should open.
Edge gets priority in the browser prompt
The prompt presents two main options: Microsoft Edge and the system’s default browser. Microsoft highlights Edge’s single sign-on and security features inside the dialog.
If Edge is not installed and a user selects it, Teams triggers a second prompt that sends the user to the app store to install Edge. Competing browsers such as Chrome, Firefox, or Vivaldi do not receive the same visibility unless they are already installed on the system.
Microsoft has confirmed that it will track user satisfaction, Edge installation rates, and long-term retention tied to this feature.
Admin controls available through PowerShell
IT administrators can manage or disable the new browser prompt using PowerShell. The LinksInTeams attribute sits under the TeamsMobilityPolicy.
Admins who want to stop the prompts can set the policy to UseSystemDefaults, which restores standard operating system browser behavior. If organizations do nothing, Teams enables the browser prompt by default for users.
Rollout timeline and expected user friction
Microsoft plans to complete the rollout by the end of February for worldwide, GCC, and DoD tenants. The company has advised IT departments to prepare for user confusion and increased helpdesk requests once the prompt appears.
For many users, the change adds friction to an otherwise familiar workflow. For organizations with strict browser standards, the added telemetry and forced choice may create policy conflicts.
This update arrives alongside deeper Copilot integration in Edge for Business and renewed efforts to increase Edge adoption across Microsoft products. While Microsoft frames the change as a user-choice feature, the forced prompt and Edge-first presentation reinforce the company’s long-standing strategy to keep users inside its browser ecosystem.
Whether organizations accept the change or push back through policy controls, Teams users should expect link behavior to feel different very soon. IT admins can find official details in the Microsoft 365 Admin Center (message ID MC1216263).
Source: Neowin
