MSEdgeRedirect: Seamlessly Redirect Microsoft Edge Content to Your Default Browser

MSEdgeRedirect: Seamlessly Redirect Microsoft Edge Content to Your Default Browser

Summary

MSEdgeRedirect is an open-source tool designed to redirect various Microsoft Edge content, such as News, Search, Widgets, and Weather, to your preferred default browser. It achieves this by filtering and passing command-line arguments, offering a robust solution against future Edge changes. This utility provides a "set and forget" experience, enhancing user control over their browsing preferences on Windows.

Repository Info

Updated on October 11, 2025
View on GitHub

Tags

edgemsedgewindowsbrowser-redirecturi-manipulationsAutoItsystem-utility

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Introduction

MSEdgeRedirect is an innovative open-source tool designed to give users more control over their browsing experience on Windows. It effectively redirects various content originating from Microsoft Edge, such as News, Search results, Widgets, and Weather information, to your preferred default web browser. Unlike methods that hook into the microsoft-edge: handler, MSEdgeRedirect operates by filtering and passing command-line arguments of Microsoft Edge processes. This unique approach provides enhanced resiliency against potential future changes in Edge, ensuring long-term functionality. Additionally, it offers an Image File Execution Options mode, similar to the functionality of the older EdgeDeflector, and aims for a "set and forget" user experience without complex setup steps.

Installation

Getting MSEdgeRedirect up and running is straightforward, with multiple installation options available:

Direct Download

The easiest way to get started is by downloading the latest executable directly from GitHub:

Package Managers

MSEdgeRedirect can also be installed conveniently using popular Windows package managers:

  • Chocolatey: 
    choco install msedgeredirect
    (More info: Chocolatey Package)
  • Scoop: 
    scoop bucket add extras
scoop install msedgeredirect
    (More info: Scoop Package)
  • Winget: 
    winget install MSEdgeRedirect
    (More info: Winget Package)

Compiling from Source

For those who prefer to compile the tool themselves, follow these steps:

  1. Download and install "AutoIt Full Installation" from the official AutoIt website.
  2. Obtain the source code by downloading the zip or using git clone https://github.com/rcmaehl/MSEdgeRedirect.
  3. Navigate to the MSEdgeRedirect directory, right-click on MSEdgeRedirect.au3, and select "Compile Script (x64)" (or x86 for 32-bit Windows).
  4. An MSEdgeRedirect.exe executable will be created in the same directory.

Examples

Once installed, MSEdgeRedirect seamlessly integrates with your Windows environment to redirect specific content:

  • News and Widgets: Clicking on news articles or widgets that would typically open in Microsoft Edge will now open in your default browser.
  • Search Results: Searches initiated from Windows features that default to Bing in Edge will be redirected to your chosen default browser.
  • Custom Search Engines: As of version 0.5.0.0, MSEdgeRedirect allows you to select from 8 predefined search engines or configure your own custom search engine for redirected queries.
  • Important Note: MSEdgeRedirect specifically targets links attempting to open in MS Edge. It does not alter search results generated within other applications or change Bing results directly within Edge if you choose to use Edge for other purposes.

Why Use MSEdgeRedirect?

Many Windows users find themselves inadvertently directed to Microsoft Edge for certain system-level content, even if it's not their preferred browser. MSEdgeRedirect addresses this by:

  • Restoring User Choice: It ensures that content like news feeds, weather updates, and search queries from Windows widgets open in your chosen default browser, not necessarily Edge.
  • Enhanced Resiliency: Its unique method of filtering command-line arguments makes it more robust against Microsoft's updates that might break other redirection tools.
  • Simplicity: Designed for a "set and forget" experience, it requires minimal configuration after installation.
  • Open Source: Being open-source and licensed under LGPL-3.0, it offers transparency and community-driven development.
  • Active Development: The project is actively maintained, with ongoing improvements and planned features.

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