I put a webapp into ElectronJS framework. In the webapp (actually webpage) there are some links target=_blank. However when I click the link, it will open another Electron browser window. Expectedly I want the link to be shown in default web browser.

What I can think about is to trap such navigation event and then send a message to the main browser window and let it spawn a default browser instance to show the link.

I think this is a bit plicated. I'm seeking an easier way to do this.

I put a webapp into ElectronJS framework. In the webapp (actually webpage) there are some links target=_blank. However when I click the link, it will open another Electron browser window. Expectedly I want the link to be shown in default web browser.

What I can think about is to trap such navigation event and then send a message to the main browser window and let it spawn a default browser instance to show the link.

I think this is a bit plicated. I'm seeking an easier way to do this.

• javascript
• electron

• Does this answer your question? How can I force external links from browser-window to open in a default browser from Electron? – icc97 Commented Aug 24, 2023 at 13:19

1 Answer 1

You've got the right idea, you need to listen to the new-window event and forward the URL to the default browser. You'd implement it in the main process like so:

import { shell } from 'electron'

mainWindow.webContents.on('new-window', (event, url) => {
  // stop Electron from opening another BrowserWindow
  event.preventDefault()
  // open the url in the default system browser
  shell.openExternal(url)
})

Note that the new-window event actually provides some additional information about the window to be opened (not just the URL), it may make sense for you to take some of that info into account to figure out if the URL should be forwarded to the default browser or not.