How to Disable In-App Browser for Android Apps

Today, the majority of Android apps are designed to automatically open links in the app. Indeed, these applications have built-in browsers (commonly referred to as embedded browsers), which publishers use as a mechanism to keep users in applications as long as possible.

On the one hand, these in-app browsers are convenient in that they allow you to quickly view the contents of the web links without having to leave the application. However, the interface of most browsers built into the application I've used is nothing exciting. They are bland, banal and do not have the complex features of standalone browsers.

Aside from the features, some reports have shown that browsers embedded in the application could be detrimental to security. Indeed, some unethical application publishers take advantage of built-in browsers to access sensitive user data.

There are several reasons why you want to disable the application's built-in browser on some of the major applications you use. This article will cover the steps involved in disabling the built-in browser to popular Android apps. Let's go.

Disable the built-in browser to the application on Facebook

Let's start with the king of social networks, Facebook. This is something you would never have thought of doing, but disabling Facebook's built-in browser is simple.

Step 1: Tap the menu icon in the upper right corner of the navigation bar.

2nd step: Tap the V-shaped icon to expand the "Settings and Privacy" menu.

Step 3: Select Settings.

Step 4: Go to the bottom of the Settings menu and press the "Media & Contacts" option.

Step 5: Now activate the option "External links open".

This disables Facebook's built-in application, so you can choose your favorite browser whenever you click on a link in the app.

For some reason, if you want to re-enable the application's built-in browser, follow the same steps and re-enable the "External open links" option.

Disable the built-in browser to the application on Twitter

Follow the steps below to disable the built-in Twitter browser on your Android smartphone.

Step 1: Tap the profile picture on the home page of the Twitter application or anywhere on the app.

2nd step: Select Settings and Privacy.

Step 3: Then press the "Display and sound" option just under the General section.

Step 4: Finally, uncheck the option "Use the built-in browser to the application" by simply pressing on it.

Return to your Twitter feed and try to open a link. Twitter will no longer automatically open the link. Instead, you will be prompted to choose a browser / application that you would like to use to access the web link.

Disable the built-in browser to the application in Gmail

If you want Gmail's built-in browser to not open embedded links in your emails, here's how to disable it in four easy steps.

Step 1: Tap the hamburger menu icon to expand the menu options of the Gmail app.

2nd step: At the bottom of the menu option, select Settings.

Step 3: Tap General settings.

This will open a list of customizations that you can make to the Gmail app.

Step 4: Tap "Open Web Links in Gmail" to uncheck the option and eventually disable the built-in browser to the application to automatically open the web links.

Disable the built-in browser in the application in Telegram

Telegram is an excellent instant messaging alternative to WhatsApp and Discord. One thing you might not like about Telegram, however, is that it automatically opens the web links in the application's browser.

Follow the steps below to disable the built-in Telegram browser.

Step 1: Tap the hamburger menu icon to reveal the menu options.

2nd step: Select Settings.

Step 3: Select Conversation Settings.

Step 4: Scroll to the bottom of the chat settings menu and disable the "Embedded Browser" option.

Thus, Telegram will open all the links of your text outside of the application.

Enjoy a full web browsing

Although the convenience of the application's built-in browsers is addictive, standalone browsers provide a more enjoyable and secure browsing experience. With the built-in browsers in the application, you miss features such as private browsing, completely anonymous web browsing and much more.

You have more to gain by disabling browsers built into your applications. There are more accidental clicks to open fragmentary links and you do not have to get away from the view of the application you are using.

Then: Are you bored by the notifications that appear when you listen to moving songs on your Android smartphone? The linked article below will show you how to turn off these notifications when playing music on your device.