Microsoft Outlook Hyperlink does not Work

Before going through the causes of not opening hyperlink in Microsoft Outlook first the check the basic setting:

• Sometime hyperlink do not open in the browser as it is set to the plain text format. So enable it to HTML file format. by following the given path Open Outlook go to the Tool menu a drop down window open select Options, Now a new option window open in front of you select Mail format tab from it and choose message format type HTML >> click Ok
• Go to the Tool menu after that Option >> Preference and then click on the Junk e-mail option. A newpop-up window open in front of you unchek the box "Disable links and other functionality in phishing messages".
• Go the Tool menu after that click on Option now a new window open click on Editor option >> Advance and after that check the box "Use CTRL + Click to follow hyperlinks".

If the above setting does not works for you and still getting problem. Hyperlink in Outlook not Working Properly!! Then move further:

As sometimes it happens when you click on Outlook email hyperlink it start showing an annoying error might be all because of setting an Internet Explorer as a default browser in windows. The error message depends on the version of Outlook:

• This operation has been cancelled due to restrictions in effect on this computer. Please contact your system administrator- You receive this error message when you click a hyperlink in Outlook.

• Your organization's policies are preventing us from completing this action for you. For more info, please contact your help desk- If you have Microsoft Outlook 2013, the message is different though its meaning is unclear as before.

There are some common activities that has been noticed as one of the problem for not opening hyperlinks like:

• Windows update installation
• Installing add-ons browser
• Installing and uninstalling of browser
• Using Outlook addins or plugins
• Using threatening whindow registry cleaner

Methods to Fix it-

Microsoft Outlook provides a free solution to fix these error messages, You just need to Download & Run the software. For Download follow Microsoft Link: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/310049

Manual method to fix it-

Method 1: Reset IE (Internet Explorer)Settings

Internet Explorer11 and Internet Explorer 10

Step1:

• Start Internet Explorer
• Click on "Tools" icon >> "Internet Options"
• After that go to the "Advance Tab" and click on "Reset" button

Step2: In the reset Internet Explorer setting window, mark this box- "Delete personal setting" and click on "Reset" button.

Step3: A new pop window open in front of you click on the "Close" button.

Step4: After clicking on "Close" button restart Internet Explorer

On the Tools menu, click on "Internet options" again, click on the "Programs tab" >> "Set programs".

After that click on "Set your default program" option

In program list, click on "Microsoft Outlook" and Set this program as default.

Now click on "Ok" button and Close this dialog box.

You can also Change the Default Setting of Browser by Doing Changes in Registry

Note: Please be careful at the time of doing changes in the registry of system. If you are woking in corporate environment then its better to contact IT person or administrator for assistance. Before modifying registry create a backup on your computer as a safer side.

• On Windows 7 and Windows 8 click on start button and type Regedit after that hit the enter button to open Registry editor.
• Registry Editor will open browse to the path HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\.html. Verify that the Default value of this key is htmlfile.
• If Default value is FireFoxHTML or ChromeHTML right click on it and select Modify
• Change default value to htmlfile
• Repaeat steps 3 and 4 for .shtml and .html keys
• Now restart computer to check the changes

Import Registry key from another System

If you have upgraded Internet Explorer newer version then the following registry may be missing or corrupted:

HKEY_Local_Machine\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command

You can fix it by importing it from healthy system to an affected one.

Note: For exporting registry from one system to another, you should have an administrator rights. So before importing registry please make a system restore point first.

Now head over to a system were Outlook links are working properly and follow the below steps:

Export registry key from the system that doesn't have issue with Outlook links.

• Open Registry editior by clicking on "Start" button >> Type "Regedit" >> After that press "Enter".
• Find the registry key:HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Classes\htmlfile\shell\open\command
• Right click on "Command" subkey and select "Export" from context menu.

Import Registry Key to the System getting problem in opening hyperlink

• Its easy you have to just simply copy the exported registry key to desktop or any folder on affected computer and after that double click on reg file.

Make sure Default value of HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \.html key is htmlfile

To check it click on "Start" button again and type regedit to open Registry Editor. After that navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT \.html key.

If default value of registry key is not htmlfile, than modify it as we discussed in Registry editing part. Hopefully now you are able to open Outlook hyperlink. If not than restore your system as last resort.

Do a System Restore

System restore is a method to undo recent changes of your system in order to set it as before. So to open System Restore click on "Start" button and type "System Restore" in search box. After that click on "Enter" button and choose System Restore from list of results.

In System Restore dialog window, you can either go with "Choose a different restore point" option or "Recommended restore" option when you are sure everything worked fine including Outlook hyperlink.