Change the link opening behavior on Android

December 12, 2023 5:42 AM

I *hate* that every App has its own #@!% built-in web browser, none of which are signed into my myriad of different accounts that Chrome is signed into. Is there a way to get my phone to open links the way I want them to?

If I am in an App - it doesn't matter what App, including Chrome itself - and I click a link, I would like it to go to that website in Chrome, unless the website is also an App that I have installed, in which case, I would like it to go to the App.

Examples:
I am in Instagram, and I click someone's Link in Profile. That should open in Chrome without first loading in Instagram's shitty almost browser and requiring me to manually go to Open in Chrome on the hamburger menu.
I am in Chrome, and I click a link to a Reddit post. It should open in the Reddit app, not the crappy mobile web version of Reddit. On the other hand, if it is a link to the NYTimes, it should open in Chrome because although the Times has an app it would very much like me to use, I hate it and have long since uninstalled it.

The first half of this equation is probably more important than the second half if I can have only one.

posted by jacquilynne to Computers & Internet (3 answers total)

Go to settings > apps then open the settings for whatever app. Let's say reddit. Scroll down to the setting that says "open by default" and make sure it has all the reddit type links you want in there so that all of those will re direct to the app.

Haven't found a consistent way to bypass Instagram's shitty almost browser.
posted by phunniemee at 6:07 AM on December 12, 2023 [1 favorite]

I don't think Chrome has such a setting, but Firefox at least lets you pick whether clicking a link in Firefox opens the registered app or not, it's in Settings under "Open links in apps."

I think you have to disable opening links in apps in Chrome one-by-one, on my phone it's under Settings (Android settings, not Chrome) > Apps > Default apps > Opening links > Installed apps > toggle "Open Supporting Links" off for the ones you want to disable.

As for stopping Instagram et al from insisting on using their internal browser rather than your system one, I think that's going to be an app-by-app thing, if the app even has it as an option to change. I think Facebook lets you open links in your system browser but I suspect Instagram doesn't.
posted by BungaDunga at 7:23 AM on December 12, 2023 [3 favorites]

I remember changing this before on a Google Pixel, and I now have a Samsung and I can do it as well... not sure if this info will apply for all Android phones. I also hate with a passion the "app" experience.
On the Samsung it's in 2 locations (not sure if one overrides the other): 1) the "Internet Settings" it's a toggle called "Open app links in browser". There is also one in my browser (Brave) called "Open external links in Brave".

Then for any individual apps that I would like to open in an app I have installed, I go into the individual app settings (under Apps in settings) and click on "Set as Default" and allow the toggle for "Open supported links".

Hope that helps.
posted by Laura in Canada at 9:58 AM on December 12, 2023 [1 favorite]