Why Do My C# Web Browser Links Open in Internet Explorer Instead of My Default Browser?

Troubleshooting C# Web Browser Links Opening in Internet Explorer

Your C# application's embedded web browser might unexpectedly open links in Internet Explorer (IE) instead of your preferred browser (e.g., Google Chrome), even if Chrome is your system default. Let's explore the likely causes and solutions.

System Default Browser Verification

First, confirm your operating system's default browser settings. Check your system's default applications settings to ensure Chrome (or your desired browser) is correctly designated as the default for web browsing.

Embedded WebBrowser Control Limitation

The built-in WebBrowser control in older .NET frameworks is essentially a wrapper for Internet Explorer. This means links clicked within this control will inherently launch in IE.

Redirecting Links with the Navigating Event

To bypass this IE limitation, handle the WebBrowserNavigating event. This allows you to intercept link clicks and launch them in your default browser using Process.Start. Here's how:

<code class="language-csharp">private void WebBrowser_Navigating(object sender, WebBrowserNavigatingEventArgs e)
{
    System.Diagnostics.Process.Start(e.Url.ToString());
    e.Cancel = true;
}</code>

Important Note: This solution only affects links opened within the application's WebBrowser control; it doesn't alter your overall system default browser settings.

Alternative Approaches and Considerations

• Direct Process.Start (Older .NET Frameworks): In older .NET Framework versions, you might be able to use Process.Start directly to open links in the default browser without event handling.
• Code Review: Carefully review your code for any explicit references to Internet Explorer or forced usage of it. Remove any such references. Consider using a more modern web browser control if possible (e.g., WebView2).

By addressing these points, you can resolve the issue and ensure your C# application's web browser functionality aligns with your system's default browser.

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