Problem
In Windows 8, when you click a link it opens up Internet Explorer in the full screen app as opposed to the Desktop program.
Solution
1. Hold down the “Windows Key” and press “X”.
2. Click on “Control Panel”.
3. Click on “Internet Options” and click the “Programs” tab.
4. Under the heading “Choose how you open links”, check the box that states “open Internet Explorer tiles on the desktop” and click “OK”.
If you find “Choose how you open links” is grayed out, please follow these steps:
1. Open “Internet Options” then click the “Programs” tab and click “Set associations”.
2. Tick the “Select All” check box and click “Save”.
Now when you click links, your web browser will open in the desktop environment.
If you change your default browser all links will open in that web browser and not the full screen Internet Explorer app.
Thank you!!!!
Thanks, a perfect fix. This has been just one more annoyance of Windows 8 on none touch devices. Finally got around to searching for a fix after one too many program links opened up a tile. Thanks again.
Strange, I don’t seem to have the “choose how you open links” header.
Hello Danny,
You will find this option by opening Internet options, on the “programs tab”. At the very top you will see “Opening Internet Explorer”, directly under this you will see “Choose how to open links”.
If this option is grayed out please be patient while I update this post with some additional steps that may be required, this will be done today.
Hope this helps.
EDIT: The fix has now been updated to reflect the additional steps.