Let’s assume that you have a hyperlink containing a URI scheme such as HTTP, mailto, etc. If you click the http: link, Windows opens the default browser to show you the webpage. Similarly, if you click on a mailto: link, it opens the default email client or app on your computer to let you compose the email. These functionalities help you to view the content without doing anything extra. However, if you want to disable the default app openings due to a URI or file scheme, here is how to do that.

Block launching apps associated with file or URI scheme

To prevent launching apps associated with file or URI scheme, follow these steps- Let’s check out these steps in detail. At first, you will have to open the Local Group Policy Editor on your computer. For that, press Win+R, type gpedit.msc, and hit the Enter button. Once opened, navigate to this path- On your right-hand side, you will get two settings-

Block launching desktop apps associated with a fileBlock launching desktop apps associated with a URI scheme

Double-click on each of them, select Enabled and click on Apply and OK buttons to save the change.

As mentioned earlier, you can do the same with the help of the Registry Editor. Before getting started, it is recommended to create a Registry file backup and create a System Restore point.

Prevent launching apps associated with file or URI scheme using Registry Editor

To prevent launching apps associated with file or URI scheme using Registry Editor, follow these steps- To know more, keep reading. To get started, search for the regedit in the Taskbar search box and click on Registry Editor in the search result. After clicking the Yes button and opening the Registry Editor on your computer, navigate to this path- If you do not file Associations key, right-click on Policies, select New > Key. Following that, name it as Associations. After doing that, right-click on the Associations and select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value. It will create new REG_DWORD value on the right-hand side. Name it as BlockProtocolElevation. It represents Block launching desktop apps associated with a URI scheme.

Follow the same steps to create another DWORD (32-bit) Value and name it as BlockFileElevation. It represents Block launching desktop apps associated with a file.

Now, double-click on each REG_WORD value, and set the Value data as 1. Click the OK button to save changes. Hope it helps.