How to Clean Open App Settings in Chrome to Manage URL Handlers

Clean Open App Settings: Manage URL Handlers in Chrome

In today's interconnected world, web browsers such as Google Chrome have become an essential part of our daily computing tasks. Chrome, being one of the most popular browsers, offers a wide range of features to improve user experience. One such feature is the ability to register URL handlers for installed applications. This functionality allows Chrome to ask whether you want to open a specific URL in a desktop app instead of Chrome, ensuring a clean and seamless experience.

What are URL handlers?

URL handlers, also known as URI handlers, are applications or browser features that handle specific protocols or custom URL schemes. For instance, when you click a mailto: link, the operating system recognizes the URL handler and opens your default email application. Similarly, when you click on a steam://rungameid/ link, the Steam client launches and runs the corresponding game.

Why manage URL handlers in Chrome?

Managing URL handlers in Chrome is crucial for maintaining a clean and organized workflow. By setting the correct URL handlers, you can ensure that specific URLs open in their intended applications. This can be particularly useful for developers, power users, or simply when working with apps that provide a better user experience outside the browser.

How to manage URL handlers in Chrome

You can manage URL handlers in Chrome by following these simple steps:

1. Open the Chrome browser.
2. Type chrome://settings/handlers in the address bar and press Enter.
3. A list of registered URL handlers will be displayed. To modify or delete a handler, click on it; to register a new handler, click the "Register new handler" button.
4. To register a new handler, enter the URL scheme and choose the application responsible for handling the scheme.
5. Finish by clicking "Add" to save the changes or "Cancel" to discard them.

Registering a URL handler for an installed app

To register a URL handler for an installed app, perform the following:

1. Locate the application's executable or shortcut within your file system.
2. Right-click the executable or shortcut and select "Properties".
3. Navigate to the "Start in" section and enter the path for the directory where the executable is located.
4. In the "Target" field, append the URL scheme for the app followed by a space, for example "path\to\your\app.exe steam://rungameid/">.
5. Click "OK" to save the modified target path followed by "Apply" or "OK" to close the properties window.

Note: Not all applications support custom URL handlers.

Code example: Register a URL handler with a batch file (for Windows)

The following example demonstrates how you can create a URL handler with a batch file in Windows:

After creating the batch file, please follow the steps mentioned above to set the "Target" path in the properties window.

• URL handlers, or URI handlers, enable specific URL schemes to open in their corresponding applications.
• Managing URL handlers in Chrome ensures a clean and organized workflow.
• To modify or delete a URL handler, go to chrome://settings/handlers and follow the instructions provided.
• To register a new URL handler for an installed app, modify the application's target path to include the URL scheme.

References

• Chrome Extension Developer Guide: Externally Connectable
• Registering URL Handlers for Chrome Apps
• Registering Custom URL Protocols on Windows