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If I click control-click a hyperlink in the text editor, it opens the URL in a new Visual Studio tab. I would rather the link open outside Visual Studio in my system's default web browser (happens to be Google Chrome). How can I arrange this?

I'm talking about hyperlinks in code comments.

I am using Visual Studio 2012. I found a similar question dated 2009, however the accepted answer (a macro) doesn't work in Visual Studio 2012.

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11 Answers 11

up vote 24 down vote accepted

Frustratingly, this isn't possible in Visual Studio 2012 or 2013.

Bug reported to developers at http://visualstudio.uservoice.com/forums/121579-visual-studio/suggestions/2723548-open-links-in-an-actual-browser Please add your vote!

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I have Chrome set as default web browser for debugging in VS2012, so apparently it is possible. –  user15741 Dec 10 '13 at 20:13
Check out Dmitry's answer. There is an extension to fix this issue. I just installed it and now when I Ctrl+Click a link in a comment it opens outside of VS in my default browser. –  mikesigs Oct 21 at 15:17

There is an extension Open in External Browser. I'm using Visual Studio 2013 Professional. It works for me.

To install:

  1. Go to "Tools" - "Extension and Updates..."
  2. Choose "Online" - "Visual Studio Gallery" on left pane
  3. Type in search field "open in external browser"
  4. Click "Install"
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It seems that it is not possible (except if your default browser is IE, so you would not know the difference).

As Anand wrote above, you could ctrl + right click on the link and then select open link in external window (you cannot do that on the start page, only on an opened webpage) but it still opens the window in IE no matter what your default browser is.

Even if you go to TOOLS --> Options --> Environment --> Web Browser, you will notice that it indicated that IE and the internal VS web browser are siblings.

So just copy the URL from the address bar and paste it to your default browser (it's not too much trouble in my opinion).

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In VS 2012 Professional, on the toolbar next to the run debug icon, is the word 'Start' which can be expanded. When expanded you have the option to 'Open with...' and you can select the browser to open the web project up in. It does not run the debugger, it only opens the website in the selected browser. (toolbar > Start (expanded) > Open with...)

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The question asked for something different... –  Albert Mar 15 at 13:54

You can use the default browser switcher application if you are using Visual Studio 2010 for this kind of situation:

  1. On your tool bar menu select "TOOLS"
  2. Then from options choose "EXTENSION Manager"
  3. It will open the extension manager window in the left hand side there are options choose the "Online Gallery" option
  4. In Online Gallery search for "WoVS Default Browser Switcher"
  5. Download it and Install it
  6. After download restart VS

Hope this works best for you

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There are no results for 'Wovs' –  Colonel Panic Oct 31 '12 at 16:11
@Colonel Panic I have checked it on another machines also there I was able to see Wovs Default Browser switcher in the Online Gallery –  NetStarter Nov 6 '12 at 11:41
@NetStarter It is available for VS2010 as far as I can see it is not available for VS2012 as of yet –  Mark Hall Nov 7 '12 at 7:52
@Mark Hall ok thanks for the info I was not knowing about it Sorry Colonel Panic –  NetStarter Nov 10 '12 at 10:57

I found a way to change the default browser for all actions in Visual Studio Express 2012 for Web. It's documented here:

By default, Visual Studio uses your default browser to test pages. To use a different browser or Page Inspector, right-click [an .aspx] page in [the] Solution Explorer and then click [...] Browse With [, which] lets you select a browser from a list, add new browsers to the list, or set one as the default browser. (The default browser setting here applies only to the Visual Studio environment and not to Windows.)

This also changes the default browser for F5'ing an MVC project, because I'm used to closing IE to stop debugging. When I let Visual Studio use my system's default browser, I first have to switch back to it from my browser to stop debugging, because closing the browser tab doesn't.

Unfortunately it still doesn't open links in comments in a browser.

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I don't actually know what you mean under hyperlink, but you can easily make VS2012 working with another browser by simply.. uninstalling IE9 (Control Panel->Software->Windows components->bye bye IE9).

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It doesn't work. When Ctrl+clicking on a link, it still opens it in a tab inside MSVC. Apparently, IE isn't completely deleted after this. –  Albert Mar 15 at 13:53
@Albert, uninstall IE, install other browser, make sure it's "default browser", try. –  Sinatr Mar 17 at 9:04
I did exactly that. –  Albert Mar 17 at 9:29

Check this link, worked for me.


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This is not answering the question. –  Albert Mar 15 at 13:42

This is what you have to do:

  1. Go to the standard menu toolbar
  2. Click on 'Add or Remove Buttons'
  3. Tick the 'Debug Target' option

enter image description here

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Well I found a workaround that is not so clean :P

  • Add a .html file to your project
  • Open the new .html file and click inside the editor.
  • Now Goto 'File' > 'Browse With...' from the Visual Studio Top Menu.

    enter image description here

  • In the 'Browse With' Window, select the desired browser and click the 'Set as Default' button.

    enter image description here

  • Click the Browse button to set the new default selection.

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ctrl+right click on the link and then select 'view in browser(Crome)'. (default browser name)

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There's no such menu item for me :( –  Colonel Panic Oct 30 '12 at 9:44
@Anand this is dependant on the type of project –  Blowsie Apr 26 '13 at 8:30

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