3 Best Ways to Stop Chrome From Opening Apps in Android

Apps are rapidly revolutionizing the world, one day at a time. Today we can book a taxi, order food and watch a movie with mobile apps. However, sometimes a particular service website offers better functionality. You might think that opening the website through a browser shouldn’t be a difficult task. But it is for some services on Android. Basically, the Chrome browser opens most websites in their linked apps instead of opening it as a website in the browser itself. Annoyed by such behavior? Find ways to stop it.

The problem mainly occurs with websites like YouTube, Reddit, Amazon, Facebook, etc. When a user clicks on a link, say a short YouTube link in Chrome, they expect the browser to open the YouTube website directly. But Chrome automatically redirects them to the YouTube app.

Are you facing the same problem? Here are 3 ways for Chrome to open websites instead of opening the app.

1. Disable instant apps

Instant Apps is a feature of Android phones that allows you to use apps without installing one. The same functionality kicks in when you tap a link in Chrome. Instead of opening the website, an instant app or the actual app installed on your phone will open.

To stop this behavior and let Chrome open websites instead, you need to turn off the Instant Apps feature on your Android phone. There are different methods to do this. We’ve got them all covered. Find out which one allows you to disable instant apps.

Method 1

In this method, you need to find the Default Applications setting. You can use the phone search to find it if the following steps do not help.

Step 1: Open settings on your phone. Go to Apps, Installed apps, or Application manager, depending on the option available.

2nd step: On some phones, you will find default apps directly when you tap Apps. For others, you’ll need to tap Advanced> Default apps.

On Samsung phones, go to Settings> Apps. Tap the three-dot icon and choose Default apps. On Mi phones, go to Settings> Apps> Manage apps. Then tap the three-dot icon at the top and select Default apps.

Step 3: Tap Open Links on the Default Apps screen. Here you will see the instant apps. Turn off the toggle next to it.

Method 2

If you cannot find the Instant Apps setting using the above method, follow these steps:

Step 1: Open the settings on your Android phone and go to Google.

2nd step: Tap Account Services, then Google Play Instant.

Step 3: Disable the button next to Upgrade Web Links. Restart your phone.

Method 3

Launch Google Play Store on your phone and open the left sidebar. Tap on Settings. Tap Google Play Instant and turn off the upgrade web links toggle on the next screen.

2. Change the behavior of opening links

Android phones allow you to choose the default apps for various services. The same goes for websites. If Chrome finds any supported links for an app, it will open that website in the app. This behavior can be changed in the settings.

You will need to change it individually for the apps. We will use YouTube as an example. You can also do this in two ways.

Method 1

You should follow the same steps as mentioned in Method 1 of the first patch. This is the default open applications setting. To do this, go to Settings> Applications> Default applications. Otherwise, tap the three-dot icon on the Settings> Apps screen and choose Default apps.

Tap Open Links. Under Installed apps, scroll down and tap YouTube.

Tap Open supported links. Choose Ask every time or select Do not allow app to open links, depending on your preference. If you select Ask Every Time, every time you tap a YouTube link, your phone will ask you whether it should open in the YouTube app or in installed browsers.

Pro tip: Press the Clear Defaults button to delete the default application from various services.

Restart the phone and now Chrome will open YouTube links only in the browser. Likewise, if you want another website to open in the browser, change the open link behavior for it by following the same steps.

Method 2

Go to Settings> Apps. Open the required app. Let’s say YouTube. Look for Open by default. Tap on it.

Tap Clear by default if it is active. Then go to Open supported links and select Ask every time or Don’t allow app to open links.

3. Reset app preferences

The above two methods should solve the problem. If that doesn’t happen, you should take a slightly harsher action to reset app preferences. This will not delete any of your apps or their associated data. However, your phone settings such as disabled apps, permission restrictions, etc. will be reset to their default values. Find out in detail what is happening by resetting the app preferences.

To reset app preferences, go to Settings> System> Reset options. Tap Reset app preferences. You can also go to Settings> Applications. Tap the three-dot icon and choose Reset app preferences.

Chrome always opens apps

If Chrome keeps opening apps, you need to use workarounds to get the link to open in a browser. First, copy the link and open it in Chrome’s incognito mode. This will open the website instead of the app.

You can also turn on the Request a Desktop Site feature in Chrome. For that, tap on the three-dot icon in Chrome and activate the desktop request site. We hope you can open the required link in the browser.