# da2x/EdgeDeflector

A tiny helper application to force Windows 10 to use your preferred web browser instead of ignoring the setting to promote Microsoft Edge. Only runs for a microsecond when needed.

Repository: https://github.com/da2x/EdgeDeflector
Canonical: https://ross.abutalabs.com/products/edgedeflector
Homepage: https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/edgedeflector-default-browser.html
Language: NSIS
License: MIT
License Family: permissive
Topics: uri-manipulations, web-browser, system-utility, windows-10, intercept-links, cortana
Archived: true
Last push: 2022-03-23T01:34:13+00:00

## Health v2 (maintenance only)
Score: 10/100 (v2, computed 2026-09-03T02:20:16.233290+00:00)
- activity 0, release rhythm 8, longevity 100
- inputs: {"age_days": 3488, "days_push": 1625, "days_rel": null, "gap_med": null, "n_releases_24m": 0}
- flags: archived
- formula: round(0.45*activity + 0.35*rhythm + 0.20*longevity); archived -> min(score, 10)

## Adoption (not part of the score)
Stars 2859, forks 142 (observed 2026-08-28T04:07:25.945099+00:00)

## What it is
EdgeDeflector is a tiny Windows helper application that intercepts URIs forced to open in Microsoft Edge (such as links from Cortana and built-in apps) and redirects them to the user's default web browser. It runs transparently in the background only when a link needs deflecting. The project is discontinued after Microsoft blocked it in Windows 11 build 22494 and newer.

## Use cases
- stop Windows 10 from force-opening links in Microsoft Edge
- make Cortana search results open in my default browser
- use Firefox or Chrome for Windows built-in help links
- respect my default browser setting in Windows 10
- redirect microsoft-edge:// URIs to my preferred browser

## When to choose
- you run Windows 10 or an older Windows 11 build (pre-22494) and want system links to open in your default browser

## When to avoid
- you use Windows 11 build 22494 or newer, where Microsoft blocked the technique
- you need an actively maintained tool

## Facets
- artifact type: application
- maturity: abandoned
- function: security, privacy, developer-tools
- domain: windows, privacy, developer-tools
- platform: windows
- tags: uri-handler, default-browser, cortana, system-utility, discontinued

## Member repositories
- da2x/EdgeDeflector (main) score 10

## Provenance
- Observed fields: from GitHub, fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:25.945099+00:00.
- Health v2: computed from the inputs above; adoption is never an input.
- Inferred fields (summary, facets, guidance): AI-extracted, prompt v1, taxonomy v1, on 2026-08-30T07:36:28.813874+00:00, confidence not recorded.
  - readme: https://github.com/da2x/EdgeDeflector (fetched 2026-08-28T04:07:25.945099+00:00, sha 51b3373eb5a8)
  - homepage: https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/edgedeflector-default-browser.html (fetched 2026-08-29T09:52:11.091069+00:00, sha f539c1ab2351)
  - site_page: https://www.ctrl.blog/about (fetched 2026-08-29T09:52:11.100195+00:00, sha 4918e055a5e1)
  - site_page: https://www.ctrl.blog/entry/ie11-flip-out-privacy (fetched 2026-08-29T09:52:11.101976+00:00, sha 8b20069e966d)
- Data as of 2026-08-30T08:39:29.467469+00:00.