How to Enable or Disable Apps for Websites on Windows 11

What is “Apps for Websites”?

Apps for Websites in Windows 11 lets you pick which installed app should open specific links, rather than always using your web browser. This is useful because apps can often work faster and smoother than websites in a browser. If you don’t have the right app installed, the link will just open in your web browser like normal.

Why use this? Apps often work faster and smoother than websites in a browser.

What happens? If you don’t have the app installed, the link will open in your web browser as usual.

How to Turn Apps for Websites On or Off Using the Settings App

1. Open the ⚙️ Settings app. You can do this by:

   • Clicking the ⊞ Start menu and then selecting Settings.
   • Or pressing Windows + I on your keyboard.
2. In Settings, click Apps on the left side menu.
3. On the right, click on Apps for websites.

You can turn Apps for Websites on or off for each app using the Windows 11 Settings app. To start, open Settings by clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings, or by pressing ⊞ Win+I. In Settings, click Apps on the left side menu, then click Apps for websites on the right side.

You’ll now see a list of apps that can handle links from websites.

You can turn Apps for Websites on or off for each app using the Windows 11 Settings app. To start, open Settings by clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings, or by pressing ⊞ Win+I. In Settings, click Apps on the left side menu, then click Apps for websites on the right side.

4. To turn the feature on or off for any app, just click the switch next to it.
5. When you’re done, just close ⚙️ the Settings app.

You can turn Apps for Websites on or off for each app using the Windows 11 Settings app. To start, open Settings by clicking the Start menu and selecting Settings, or by pressing ⊞ Win+I. In Settings, click Apps on the left side menu, then click Apps for websites on the right side.

How to Enable or Disable Apps for Websites Using Group Policy Editor

You can control Apps for Websites for all users on your Windows 11 computer using the Group Policy Editor, which is helpful if you want to manage this setting for your whole PC or are comfortable with advanced settings. This method allows for unified management and can prevent certain behaviors across all user accounts on the computer.

If you want to control this feature for your whole computer or if you are comfortable with advanced settings, you can use the Local Group Policy Editor.

Here’s how:

1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor. (If you don’t know how, check this guide).
2. In the left panel, go to: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > System > Group Policy
3. Click on the Group Policy folder.
4. On the right, double-click Configure web-to-app linking with app URI handlers.

5. Choose one of these options:

   • Not Configured – This is the default, which means the feature is turned on.
   • Enabled – Turns the feature on.
   • Disabled – Turns the feature off.
6. Click OK to save, then 🔄 restart your computer for the change to take effect.

How to Turn Apps for Websites On or Off Using the Registry Editor

If you can’t use the Group Policy Editor, you can manage Apps for Websites settings on your Windows 11 computer using the Registry Editor, which is available on all Windows 11 versions. Be careful when making changes in the Registry Editor, as incorrect modifications can cause problems. This method is an alternative when Group Policy isn’t accessible.

If you can’t use the Group Policy Editor, you can change the setting using the Windows Registry Editor. Be careful when making changes here!

Why use this method? Some computers don’t have Group Policy Editor available. The Registry Editor works on all Windows 11 computers.

Here’s how:

1. Open Registry Editor by typing regedit in the ⊞ Start menu search and pressing Enter. (Registry Editor)
2. Navigate to this folder:
   

   📝Good to Know

   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\System

   
   
3. If the System folder isn’t there, 🖱️ right-click on Windows, select New > Key, and name it System.

4. Right-click inside the System folder on the right side. Choose New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. Name it EnableAppUriHandlers.
5. Double-click the new value and set the Base to Decimal. Then enter:

   • 1 to turn the feature ON
   • 0 to turn the feature OFF

6. Close Registry Editor and 🔄 restart your PC for the change to work.

Summary

You have several ways to control if Windows 11 opens website links in apps or your browser, with the Settings app being the simplest.

Want to learn more? Check the official Microsoft guide here: Microsoft: Web-to-App Linking.