How can you make Google Hangouts open URLs in your favorite browser instead of Chrome?

Question

Suppose someone sends you a message with an URL:

When clicking that URL it'll spin up a Chrome window or tab with that URL. However, Chrome is not my favorite browser on this PC. I want to make Hangouts open links in my favorite browser by default.

I've tried gone breadth-first through the settings of a contact, as well as the Hangouts general settings, but haven't found an option for this. I've searched with Google but found no relevant results, and I've searched WebApps.SE finding zero relevant results as well.

Workarounds I've found are all suboptimal. Using Hangouts from your another browser (via Gmail) makes links open in that browser, but Hangouts in your browser is not a nice experience. Obviously there's copy-pasting the URL into your favorite browser, but that also requires several tedious manual actions.

My setup is Windows 8.1 with latest updates. I have installed Chrome (latest), Firefox (latest), and IE 11. The latter is set as my favorite browser. The Hangouts app is one I've installed quite some time ago at first seems like a separate app, because it's a separate set of windows, and because of how it's shown in the taskbar:

However I can't seem to find the application in the "Programs and Features" settings screen of Windows. It does show up as an extension for Google Chrome, which does kind of suggest that what I want is not possible.

Or is it?

slybloty · Accepted Answer

What you have installed is the Chrome extension of the Hangouts App. It is a standalone window/app but it runs within the Chrome browser, therefore it opens everything in Chrome, just like a detached tab.

You should try installing the plugin.

Guest · Answer

For a mobile/tablet user (in case you have a similar/related question but not on your pc and could not find a forum with this info...):
To change how a URL opens from within Hangouts, there is a setting for it on Android.

Long-press on your Hangouts icon.
Select the 'i' with the circle for "App info" screen of Hangouts.
Scroll down and select the "Set as default" setting under the "App settings" category.
Under select the "Go to supported URLs" setting under the "App links" category to change the current setting shown for opening web urls.

You can set how URLs open in one of 3 options:

Open the URL in the Hangouts app.
Always ask you which app to use to open the URL.
Pick a specific app you want Hangouts to use.

Personally, I don't like that when I am in Hangouts, if I click on a web URL link, it opens the URL within the Hangouts app. (You can't switch back and forth between the site and your hangouts message without going "back"..)
I set my Hangouts setting to open URLs with the "Always ask" option so I can pick what I want to open with every time.
It depends on your personal preference, but important to keep that in mind if you like to go back to Hangouts.
I hope this is helpful to someone!

ravegasaenz · Answer

One of my friends created a utility that allows you to open links in your browser of choice. It's only for Mac right now so you can get it on the Mac App Store.

I know you asked this as a Windows user but maybe you or someone else find Buffet useful today. This browser picker is tremendously helpful for developers, sysadmins and superusers.

How can you make Google Hangouts open URLs in your favorite browser instead of Chrome?

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