How to Stop Windows 7 From Opening a Link in Microsoft Word

Your Windows 7 computer, when brand new, included a default set of programs and configurations that it used to handle specific file types and protocols.

However, over time, as you install new programs and make changes to your computer, those initial settings can slowly be changed to your own preferences.

While this typically involves choosing a new Web browser or using a different program to view pictures, it can be as serious as accidentally using Microsoft Word to open links that you might click on Web pages, in email messages, or in documents.

Microsoft Word was not designed to process these types of requests, and your experiences in using that program in this fashion can be troubling.

Fortunately, it is possible to adjust your Windows 7 settings and stop Windows 7 from opening a link in Microsoft Word.

Use Your Web Browser to Open Links Instead of Microsoft Word

Regardless of how it may have happened, it is almost certain that you do not want to open hyperlinks in Microsoft Word.

As a word-processing program, it is not meant for that activity. Luckily Windows 7 includes a Default Programs menu that you can take advantage of to restore order among the links that you click on your computer.

Open the Default Programs menu by clicking the Start button at the bottom-left corner of your computer screen, then clicking the Default Programs option at the bottom of the column on the right side of the menu.

open the default programs menu

Click the Associate a file type or protocol with a program option at the center of the window.

associate a file type or protocol with a program

The next screen can take several seconds to load but, once it is visible, you will see a complete listing of all the file types for which Windows 7 has set associations on your computer. The structure of this window includes three columns – Name, Description and Current Default. The Name column displays the file extension, the Description column includes a brief explanation of what that file extension is for, and the Current Default column shows the program that Windows 7 will use to open that type of file. This window is organized by the Name column, but the protocols are all listed together at the end of the list, so scroll to the HTTP option near the very bottom.

Once you have found the HTTP entry, click it once to select it, then click the Change program button at the top-right corner of the window.

set the default for the http protocol

Click the Web browser that you want to use when you click a link, then click the OK button.

choose your preferred browser

If Microsoft Word was not set as the default option for the HTTP protocol, but your links are still opening in Word after you have made this change, then you may need to make an additional change to your default HTTP settings to get Microsoft Word to stop opening when you click a link.

Click the Back button at the top of the window, then click the Set your default programs link at the top of the window (if you had already closed the window, you can return to this screen by clicking the Start button, then clicking Default Programs again.)

choose default program

Scroll through the list of programs at the left side of the window until you locate the browser that you want to open when you click a link. Click the browser once to select it, then click the Set this program as default button at the bottom of the window.

set your default browser to be used when you click a link

Any link that you click should now open in the browser that you have selected.

Now that you know how to stop Windows 7 from opening a link in Microsoft Word, you can have it open those links in a more appropriate application instead.

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