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I've noticed that after I reinstalled Yahoo! Messenger 2 weeks ago, clicking on a link in a chat window opens in IE, while before it was defaulting to Firefox. How can I change the default browser back to Firefox?

My default browser is Firefox.

I forgot to mention my OS is Win XP SP3 and I'm using Yahoo! Messenger version 8.1.0.421

2 Answers 2

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You can have Firefox check right now if it is the default browser:

Tools > Options > Advanced > System Defaults

Then click Check Now.

You will see a prompt which will tell you if it is or isn't. If it isn't, simply click Yes and it will set itself as the go to browser for your computer.

On top of that, you may also need to check the following box:

☑ Always check to see if Firefox is the default browser on startup

When you re-installed YIM, it might have reset your default browser to Internet Explorer.

If that still doesn't work, Firefox might be only thinking that it's set as the default. In which case, go to the Control panel for Programs:

Start > Control Panel > Add or Remove Programs > Set Program Access and Defaults

Then open up the Custom configuration and set Mozilla Firefox as your default browser.

add or remove programs dialog

Click OK and YIM should now open up any links in the default browser, which has been set in this case as Firefox.

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  • I've tried your suggestion, but Firefox was already set as my default browser. Yahoo! Messenger is still using IE as default browser.
    – alexs
    Aug 20, 2009 at 9:18
  • YIM might have reset it to IE as well as FF no longer knowing if it is the default.
    – random
    Aug 20, 2009 at 10:00
  • I reset Firefox as my default browser in "Add or Remove Programs" - "Set Program Access and Defaults" panel closed YIM and after I opened YIM it is using Firefox as default browser. THX.
    – alexs
    Aug 20, 2009 at 11:33
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In Firefox 3:

Tools -> Options -> Advanced -> General. Toward the bottom of the window there's a section called System Defaults. Click "Check Now".


Looking around, it seems that Yahoo Messenger can ignore the default. So if that doesn't work and try this:

Start -> Control Panel -> Add or Remove Programs -> Set Program Access and Defaults -> Custom -> Choose a default Web browser: Select Firefox -> OK

For those w/ Vista try this:

  • Click the Start menu
  • Click Default Programs
  • Click “Set program access and computer defaults”
  • Select Custom then click on the drop arrow
  • Look for “Choose a default web browser” and select Mozilla Firefox
  • Click OK
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