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How to fix: Hyperlinks not working in Onenote or Outlook

This blog post is about how to fix the error message you get when clicking on a link in an email in Outlook or in a note in Onenote. (The programs I am using at the moment are the 2016 desktop versions on the latest version of Windows 10).

 

Having trouble with hyperlinks not working? You may have come across an error message like this:

“Your organization’s policies are preventing us from completing this action for you. For more info, please contact your help desk.”

Like me, you probably didn’t do anything to cause this, it just started happening of its own accord. I put up with this for weeks by copying the link and pasting it into my browser before I decided to do anything about it and I could have kicked myself when I found the solution and it was so easy! So here’s my step by step guide on how to fix the hyperlinks not working issue.

1 – Close all open programs so all you can see is the desktop

2 – Head over to the Control Panel and click Internet Options

3 – Select the Advanced tab and the click the Reset button:

4 – You’ll be presented with the following window:

5 – Tick the box labelled Delete personal settings and click Reset

6 – Resetting will commence, once completed click Close

7 – Now open Internet Explorer and select Tools and open Internet Options

8 – Click on the Programs tab and click Set Programs

9 – Click Set your default programs

10 – Scroll down the list and and select Outlook 2016 and click Set this program as default

11 – Now do the same for Onenote 2016 just above it. Select it and click Set this program as default

12 – Now do the same for your browser, in my case I am using Google Chrome. Select it and click Set this program as default

13 – Click OK and close all your windows

14 – Restart your PC

Please note: If you selected Chrome as your browser you may see a few changes like your pdf icons have changed to Chrome being the default, this is because we asked Chrome to be the default for all of it’s features. To change this back simply right click on the icon > Open With > Choose another app > Select (For example) Adobe Acrobat Reader > tick the tick box next to Always use this app to open .pdf files > Click OK and you’re sorted.

After the last step I opened up Onenote and Outlook and clicked a link, any link and I was pleased to find they opened in Chrome as they should! Phew!

Let me know if it worked for you in the comments section below! Know of another way? Get in touch 🙂

7 Comments

  1. Simple solution : change the default web browser then change back. Default apps: google chrome -> MS edge then -> google chrome

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