When you click a hyperlink in a message, your system's default web browser should open (if it is not already running) and display the link. If that doesn't happen, there are several possible causes.

Check that the operating system's default browser is specified

Every operating system allows the specification of a default browser that will be launched (for example) when a hyperlink in a message is clicked. Internet Explorer, Firefox, and other browsers check this setting by default when they start up and prompt you to set them as the default. Sometimes, however, this setting goes awry and your computer forgets which browser is the default. To fix this problem, you need to reset the default browser on your system.

Firefox

In FireFox, select Tools | Options (Windows) or Firefox | Preferences (Mac and Linux). Select the Advanced tab. On the General page, make sure "Always check to see if Firefox is the default browser on startup", and then click the Check Now button. Restart Firefox and then restart Thunderbird.

Internet Explorer under XP (it may differ on other Windows versions)

On the Control Panel, select the Internet option. Select the programs tab. In the middle of the page there will be options to turn the browser checking on and off.

Check that no application is specified for the HTTP content type

In Thunderbird you can specify an action that occurs when you click on various types of attachments and inline content. If the action for the HTTP / HTTPS content type is set incorrectly, this will prevent links from opening correctly.

If the operating system's default browser is specified correctly as described above, it is not necessary to specify an action for the HTTP / HTTPS content type. To check this setting, select Tools | Options (Windows) or Thunderbird | Preferences (Mac and Linux). Click on the Attachments page. If HTTP and / or HTTPS are listing in the Content Type column, either delete the action or ensure the specified action is correct.

Check for an incorrect preference

In some circumstances a normally hidden preference gets changed resulting in Thunderbird trying to handle these links internally. One of these circumstances appears to be after you uninstall the ThunderBrowse add on, although the upgrade process to V5 appears to have caused it for some people as well. To check if this might be the cause, open the trouble shooting information in the Help menu and under the heading of modified preferences look for a preference network.protocol-handler.external-default. If this is present and set to false then this is your problem.

To correct this setting, select Tools | Options (Windows) or Thunderbird | Preferences (Mac and Linux). Click on the Advanced page. Select the Config Editor button and click the 'I will be careful, I promise' button.

Type network.protocol-handler.external-default, or enough of it that you can see it appear in the list below. Select the entry in the list, right click it and select the reset option from the menu that appears.

Check for interference from an extension

It is time to look for an extension that may be causing some unwanted behavior. Run Thunderbird in Thunderbird Safe Mode. If you can click on hyperlinks in Thunderbird safe mode but not in normal mode then your problem is probably being caused by an add-on (also known as an extension).

Next try the Standard Diagnostics.

If you still have a problem, go to Get Satisfaction and ask about what could be the cause of the problem.

Before you post in Get Satisfaction read this and be sure to say exactly what you have done already to diagnose the problem.

Contributors to this page: roland

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Monday, January 16, 2012

Hyperlinks in Messages Not Working - Troubleshooting - Thunderbird links not working

Hyperlinks in Messages Not Working

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