rcmaehl / msedgeredirect

A Tool to Redirect News, Search, Widgets, Weather and More to Your Default Browser

MSEdgeRedirect

A Tool to Redirect News, Search, Widgets, Weather, and More to Your Default Browser

This tool filters and passes the command line arguments of Microsoft Edge processes into your default browser instead of hooking into the microsoft-edge: handler, this should provide resiliency against future changes. Additionally, an Image File Execution Options mode is available to operate similarly to the Old EdgeDeflector. Additional modes are planned for future versions.

No Default App walkthrough or other steps, just set and forget.

⚠️ PLEASE NOTE: MSEdgeRedirect is still BETA. Changes are to be expected, and performance to be improved.

Recommended Alternatives

Looking for Alternatives? Check Out This Chart
Not looking for Extra Features? Try @AveYo's ChrEdgeFckOff
Looking to Disable Web Search Entirely? Try @krlvm's BeautySearch

Downloads

Download Stable (GitHub)	Download Testing (GitHub)

Package Managers

choco install msedgeredirect	scoop bucket add extras scoop install msedgeredirect	winget install MSEdgeRedirect

Compiling

1. Download and run "AutoIt Full Installation" from official website.
2. Get the source code either by downloading zip or do git clone https://github.com/rcmaehl/MSEdgeRedirect.
3. Right click on MSEdgeRedirect.au3 in the MSEdgeRedirect directory and select "Compile Script (x64) (or x86 if you have 32 bit Windows install).
4. This will create MSEdgeRedirect.exe in the same directory.

System Requirements

	Minimum Requirements	Recommended
OS	Windows 8.1	Latest Windows 11 Build
CPU	32-bit Single Core	64-bit Dual Core or Higher
RAM (Memory)	40MB Free	100MB Free
Disk (Storage)	5MB Free	100MB Free

Contributing

See CONTRIBUTING.md for rules of coding and pull requests.

License

MSEdgeRedirect is free and open source software, it is using the LGPL-3.0 license.

See LICENSE for the full license text.

FAQ

MSEdgeRedirect isn't listed in the "How do you want to open this?" Menu?

Select the Featured Microsoft Edge. MSEdgeRedirect will still properly function.

Will MSEdgeRedirect work with Edge uninstalled?

MSEdgeRedirect is compatible with @AveYo's Edge Removal as it retains a needed component. If Edge was removed using another method, reinstall Edge Stable, then run AveYo's tool. After AveYo's Edge Removal has been run, simply install MSEdgeRedirect and it will be detected automatically.

It isn’t working for me?

Run microsoft-edge:https://google.com using the Windows + R keys. If that is not properly redirected, file a bug report!

Will searches inside <app name here> still use Bing?

MSEdgeRedirect only redirects links that attempt to open in MS Edge. It will not affect results generated within other applications.

Can you change Bing results to Google Results?

Yes, as of 0.5.0.0, you can select One of 8 available Search Engines, or set your own!

How do I uninstall?

Normal Installs

Regular Install	Corrupted Install
Use Programs and Features	Cleanup Tool

Package Managers

Chocolatey	Scoop	Winget
choco uninstall msedgeredirect	scoop uninstall msedgeredirect	winget uninstall MSEdgeRedirect

msedgeredirect's Issues

Issue when installing the 0.6.0.0 update

When I am installing 0.6.0.0 in the install setting page when we check the checkbox "replace weather results with", then in the list there isn't a weather service listed.

Add ability to Replace MSN weather with Forecast of Choice

Original Search URL:

https://a.msn.com/54/<LOCALE>/ct<LATITUDE>,<LONGITUDE>?weadegreetype=F&weaext0={%22l%22:%22<CITY>%22,%22r%22:%22<STATE>%22,%22c%22:%22<COUNTRY>...

Version display in context menu

Describe the request
A clear and concise description of what the request is.

• A version number display in the right click menu of the tray icon.

Desktop (please complete the following information):
See issue #29

Additional context
Add any other context about the request here.

It would be nice to see the current version number in the right click menu of MSEdgeRedirect.

Not working when edge is removed

Hi,

I have uninstalled edge (chromium) and edge legacy using NTlite, then there is nomore microsoft-edge protocol handler.

So MSEdgeRedirect will not work.

Thank you.

Clarify modes and settings in installer

What is de-embed windows store apps? What will it do? Little confusing

Auto permissions in installer

The installer greys out active mode installation when not ran in administrator mode. I have a suggestion, instead of greying out active mode u can just ask for administrator permissions immediately when active mode chosen and clicked next (this is the way other installers work, for example some installers ask for "install for all users" and "install for me only" options where if u choose all users option and click next it automatically ask for administrator permissions when the installer is started in non-administrator mode instead of greying out the all users option in this mode).

Non-administrator mode:

Administrator mode:

Results duplicate if Edge is already open. URI information is lost when a potential new Window is converted into a tab

@gnpaone All builds of edge should now be supported. Latest automatically compiled build is available here:

https://github.com/rcmaehl/MSEdgeRedirect/actions/runs/1451619392

It works on my machine but if you can test it out, it'd be appreciated :)

Yes, it's working perfectly with dev, but one more issue I found, if I already opened edge manually (any version - stable, dev etc) and if I search something in windows then search results opens in both edge as well as chrome, this doesn't happen (only opens in chrome) if edge is closed

Originally posted by @gnpaone in #3 (comment)

Port to AHK to add support for ARM64

it would be nice if you could also compile an native ARM64 version.

Add Base Rules for Microsoft Services

• Cortana: Microsoft.Windows.Cortana, #1
• "Home":
• News: #54
• Search: Microsoft.Windows.Search, #1
• Spotlight:
• Stocks:
• Traffic:
• Widgets: Windows.Widgets
• Windows Store Apps: Can only go to fall back URL
• Weather: #7, #53
• Videos:

Add more as they are investigated

Widgets panel search still opening in Edge. URI likely failed URL check

Found one more issue, it opens in edge (dev, stable etc) if searched via widgets panel in Windows 11, it doesn't open in Chrome

PS: It doesn't open in Edge too sometimes if mser is running in background

Originally posted by @gnpaone in #8 (comment)

Check for updates using installer, even if already installed.

Describe the request
Have installer check for updates before exiting.

Service Mode Duplicating Windows... Again.

Describe the bug
Search does open Chrome, but it's two windows and second opens hundreds of tabs.
The first windows uses Bing to search, even thought replace to Google was chosen on install.
Second window are all google searches.

see video

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:
type in a windows search to web

⚠️ File Upload ⚠️
video of behavior
https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/525280/147012084-fd57fbb6-cc8a-483b-9a8e-73e6ce94a384.mp4

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• Windows Version 10
• Windows Build: latest

opens two windows and hundreds of tabs

Just installed to try. Really scary that it opens one Chrome window with the search terms in Bing (though set for Google during install AND opens a second window with hundreds of tabs. Killing Chrome won't stop it easily.

Behaving like malware but bitdefender isn't warning about file.

Video of problem:
https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/525280/147010766-549c2d27-8c6a-4f5c-93f1-df36998e408e.mp4

Allow installer to specify the location of settings.ini

Please add an optional location parameter to the /silentinstall switch so that the location and filename of setup.ini can be specified, like this:
MSEdgeRedirect /silentinstall=D:\Installers\MSEdgeRedirect.ini

Convert Service Mode to a Full Windows Service

Describe the request
Register the app to actual services to show up in services tab

Only if Managed is True

The App appears in the system tray Windows 11 Pro

Hello, thanks for the development of the app
very useful instead of that bing
on windows 11 there is a bug, after restart or logout the icon appears in the system tray even if I click on the hide icon,
is there any way to fix this?

Check Default Browser

Verify default HTTP/HTTPs browser is not edge and warn if it is.

Add Ability to replace Bing with Search Engine of Choice

Describe the bug
Currently all search results open in Bing

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Run MSEdgeRedirect
2. Search for web results in the start menu

Expected behavior
N/A

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your problem.

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: Windows 10
• Version: 0.1.0.0

Additional context
N/A

Add local Debug logging

• Log failed _WinAPI_UrlIs() results
• Log $aLaunchContext[2] to log what app called Edge
• Log Edge processes with command lines that were not redirected

Test on 22494

Application shouldn't be affected compared to those who hooked directly into the handler, but test anyway.

Add Support for Edge Beta, Dev, and Canary

• Edge Beta Support
  • Executable Name: msedge.exe
  • Filepath: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge Beta\Application\msedge.exe
• Edge Dev Support
  • Executable Name: msedge.exe
  • Filepath: C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft\Edge Dev\Application\msedge.exe
• Edge Canary Support
  • Executable Name: msedge.exe
  • Filepath: %localappdata%\Microsoft\Edge SXS\Application\msedge.exe

Performance Improvements

Image File Execution Options / ACTIVE Mode

Edge can be kept on the system without issue as long as multiple versions of Edge are installed. Using Image File Execution Options a non-preferred version of Edge (configurable, but default to beta) can be set to open microsoft-edge: URI and be "debugged". Allowing the preferred version of Edge to be used without issue.

Process List Refresh Rate / REACTIVE MODE

ProcessExists() only gets an updated list of processes every 250ms. As such, we do not need to check it except for every 250ms.

This was found to be incorrect, and a documentation issue

Process Detection / REACTIVE MODE

Currently, MSER checks if msedge.exe exists. This might be able to be replaced with a lighter check. Need to investigate:

• Process Count Comparison
• Direct WinAPI calls instead of AutoIt's own

OnEvent() vs TrayGetMsg() / REACTIVE MODE

Currently, MSER checks for input in a loop, this has some overhead that might be able to be reduced using OnEvent() mode.

Improve Portable Mode

Describe the request
Launch into Portable mode by default if application is on Removeable Media

Publish to package managers

Describe the request
Please add a Chocolatey and a Winget package where I can just set and forget this via parameters.

Checklist:

• Chocolatey
• Winget
• Scoop

Disable DPI Scaling

BTW If you set

175% screen scale and in custom 125% this happen:

Text is cut.

Why do this?

Provide option to DE-embed Windows Specific "Apps" (E.g. TikTok, Twitter, Wikipedia)

https://www.reddit.com/r/techsupport/comments/r3tuyb/edge_windows_11_default_browser/

Service Mode idle usage

Describe the request
A clear and concise description of what the request is.

I often see MSEdgeRedirect within the top 5 CPU load programs when I haven't opened Edge or clicked any Windows internal links.
I want to ask if there's a reason for this, because the program has to actively check which internet requests are made or so.

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your request.
PICTURE

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS / Build: Windows 11 Version 21H2 Build 22000.348 on this hardware (Hardware in brief: R7 5800X, RX580 32 GB RAM)
• MSEdgeRedirect version: 0.4.10

Additional context
Add any other context about the request here.

It's not a bug, I just want to understand why it's CPU-load on idle.
It's not staying in the top 5 CPU load programs, but switches quickly to it like every second for a split-second.

Investigate build 22509

Describe the request
"the latest Insider Dev build (22509) and MsEdgeRedirect no longer seems to work. Edge opens when I try to use a News Widget item.of what the request is."

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: Windows 11
• Build 22509

Improve RunHTTPCheck()

Other Edge channels are also affected by the microsoft-edge: protocol as well. Seems that the program just lazy checks if msedge.exe is the browser, which causes the program to immediately throw a "select another browser" error on startup.

Add Translation Support

• Add language selector
• Create translation guidelines
• Import existing strings from WhyNotWin11 where possible

Document Settings Registry Keys

1. According to the page https://github.com/rcmaehl/MSEdgeRedirect/wiki/Settings-Locations-Priority, MSEdgeRedirect attempts to read settings from the registry before reading Settings.ini. Please document the registry values and types.

2. Once MSEdgeRedirect has been installed in Active mode, can any settings be changed programmatically (i.e. from a .bat file)? Please document how this should be done.

MSEDGE_NO_IFEO.exe Errors

How to fix:

A temporary fix has been added. If you receive this error, run MSEdgeRedirect.exe /repair from an admin command prompt.

 
 
 

Original bug report

Don't know why but edge stopped opening again, tried reinstaling msedgeredirect, but that didn't fix it.

Originally posted by @0ibaba in #15 (comment)

Doesn't work when edge is fully uninstalled

Check List

• The App appears in the system tray
• Running microsoft-edge:https://google.com redirects successfully

Describe the bug
I've uninstalled Edge completely using the setup.exe in the application folder. Instead of opening a window, it just shows a white window two or three times and stops.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Search for something in start
2. Open web results
3. See described bug

⚠️ File Upload ⚠️

n/a

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• Windows Version: 11
• Windows Build: 22000.348

Additional context
n/a

Opening PDFs in v0.5 with firefox with active mode

• [✓] The App appears in the system tray
• [✓] Running microsoft-edge:https://google.com redirects successfully

Opening pdf files after setting it to redirect to firefox, it just opens a new window of the browser and doesn't open the pdf file.
However setting chrome to open them seems to be working just fine.

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Install with active mode and set firefox to open pdf files
2. Open a pdf file

logs.zip

• Windows Version: 11
• Windows Build: 22000.376

Also, the first time around I accidentally selected edge to open PDFs which sent it on a never ending loop, adding a blacklist for msedge might be a good idea.

Active Mode MSEdgeRedirect - Settings UWP app looking for msedge.exe error

Check List

• The App appears in the system tray
• Running microsoft-edge:https://google.com redirects successfully

Describe the bug
Active Mode MSEdgeRedirect - Settings UWP app looking for msedge.exe error

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Run MSEdgeRedirect setup as admin and set Active Mode setup install.
2. Set Microsoft Edge Chromium as MICROSOFT-EDGE PROTOCOL handler.
3. Launch Settings UWP app.

Results:

File Upload

/!\ Leave edge open and run Get-WmiObject Win32_Process -Filter "name = 'msedge.exe'" | Select-Object CommandLine | Format-Table -Wrap -AutoSize | Out-File ./edge.txt and attach the generated file

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• Windows Version: 10
• Windows Build: 21H2 (19044.1387)

Additional context
After removing MSEdgeRedirect and reinstall as service mode - user, seems works fine for now.

Allow User selection of Monitoring Rate - Service Mode

Check List

• The App appears in the system tray
• Running microsoft-edge:https://google.com redirects successfully

Describe the bug
I often leave a few pages open in Edge on another monitor. Redirect doesn't work in this case and the links from say the lock screen open in Edge instead. I understand if this is intended or can't redirected, but would be nice.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Open Edge.
2. Press Win + R
3. Enter "microsoft-edge:https://google.com"
4. Press Ok.

⚠️ File Upload ⚠️

1. Leave edge open
2. Open Powershell
3. Run gwmi Win32_Process | where { $_.name -like "msedge*.exe"} | Select-Object CommandLine | Format-Table -Wrap -AutoSize | Out-File $env:LOCALAPPDATA\MSEdgeRedirect\logs\edge.txt
4. Open %localappdata%\MSEdgeRedirect\logs
5. Attach the log files

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• Windows Version: 21H1
• Windows Build: 19043.1415

Additional context\

Add Exception for Edge as PDF handler

@rcmaehl Edge opens normally now, but opening files in edge (PDF files, for example) doesn't work. It's not a big deal though

Originally posted by @0ibaba in #15 (comment)

Exe location

After launching the exe file from downloads for the first time and doing the setup (setting to active) it now needs to have the exe in the downloads folder. If you copy it somewhere else and launch it - the tray icon appears but the redirect doesn't work.

Add ability to hide the tray icon

Enhancement suggestion:

Add ability to hide the tray icon

my issue is with Macro$oft not you. THANK YOU!

when edge deflector went down and microsoft stopped you from being able to switch protocol on edge links i lost hope

not only was bill gates bringing his 1996 antivirus model to real life but he was butt fucking us while he was doing it trying to force us to switch to edge and if you called for support they would tell you to reset edge and switch to edge with no real help being offered for the problem

it is clear that it is a tactic they are using to try to force peoples hand in switching to edge (who wants to use 2 browsers or copy/paste a link every time billy thinks he knows what program you should use better than you know)

should be against monopoly laws

thank you very much for this software! it is much needed

respect

not getting the redirect functionality

Check List

• The App appears in the system tray
• Running microsoft-edge:https://google.com gives the following:

Describe the bug
A clear and concise description of what the bug is.

To Reproduce
Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. search for anything that initiates a web search in the startmenu/search bar
2. see the same prompt from the screenshot

⚠️ File Upload ⚠️

1. Leave edge open

2. Open Powershell

3. Run gwmi Win32_Process | where { $_.name -like "msedge*.exe"} | Select-Object CommandLine | Format-Table -Wrap -AutoSize | Out-File $env:LOCALAPPDATA\MSEdgeRedirect\logs\edge.txt

4. Open %localappdata%\MSEdgeRedirect\logs

5. Attach the log files

6. gwmi: The term 'gwmi' is not recognized as a name of a cmdlet, function, script file, or executable program.
   Check the spelling of the name, or if a path was included, verify that the path is correct and try again.

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• Windows Edition: Windows 10 Pro for Workstations
• Version: 21H2
• Windows Build: 19044.1415

Additional context
Add any other context about the problem here.

Still sends the search queries to bing

It does open the preferred browser with the search result in the preferred search engine when 'enter' key is pressed, but the query goes to Bing upon typing the query in the Windows search.

Look at the screenshots and you will understand the issue.

Librewolf (JS is on)- https://imgur.com/a/undZl1y
Ungoogled Chromium (my default browser) (No JS) - https://imgur.com/a/cg227lD

• OS: Windows 11 Home Single Language
• Build: 21H2

The search results displayed in Windows search are from Bing not from the search engine I chose during the installation.

Add Settings Menu

• Move "Start with Windows"
  • Add "Start with no Icon"
• Add "Check for Updates on Startup"
• Add drop downs for alternatives - #9

Not working on 32 bit...

Using 0.5.0.1:

I have 2 WIN 10 machines: 32 bit & 64 bit... both on 21H2..

Works fine on the 64 bit...
Not working on 32 bit...

Any ideas??

Virus scanners and False Positives

Describe the request
A clear and concise description of what the request is.
Question: Is it a bug, that it is blocked by many virus scanners, like Bitdefender, Kaspersky

Screenshots
If applicable, add screenshots to help explain your request.

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• OS: Windows 11 21H2
• Build: 22000.376

Additional context
Add any other context about the request here.

Installer loops the exe file selection

When pdf opening application file selection is cancelled, instead of cancelling, it just loops and asks for the file again and doesn't disappear unless i choose file, also I tried to close the installer (through close button) when pdf selection is open but unfortunately couldn't cancel the installation via this button so I ended the process from task manager. So, please add a cancel button in installer, also one more bug is when pdf selection is open the installer must not be accessible like when tried to click on installer when selection is open it should give Windows warning sound (like in all other installers and apps with file selection option, for example in Google Chrome click "save link as" option or "import pdf" option from any pdf converter website, when the file selection box is open you can't access chrome before selecting file, it gives Warning sound when tried to access/click on Chrome - it's the same thing for all apps)

Untitled.mp4

2021-12-15.07-08-59.mp4

The icon is not hidden from system tray.

The app works and all but it doesen't hide itself in the system tray. During install I had set it to hide but it still pops up on the system tray. If I manually hide it from the tray it goes but it comes back on system restart. I'm using Windows 11.

Update Installer to update dev builds, Add Success Screen.

Unable to update the beta version directly, the only way to update is "uninstall" the old version and install new version. The new installer doesn't open at all without uninstalling previous version. Is there any way to update directly or atleast update using installer over previous version without uninstalling (it should replace the files instead of adding the files that causes storage buildup)

Need command-line silent install option

I need the ability to install the program silently from a batch file, with switches to specify installation options (very important: install for all users and start automatically with Windows).

Swap to a Metro UI

Describe the request
https://www.autoitscript.com/forum/files/file/365-metrogui-udf/