A long time ago, when you click on a link within an application, it automatically opens the URL in your phone’s default browser or prompts you to pick a browser of choice. Now, things are a lot different. To keep users locked within their apps, developers and publishers introduced browsers within their apps (called in-app browsers) that opens URLs and webpages directly within the app without leaving to your phone’s default browser.

However, this feature can sometimes get frustrating. In-app browsers are perfect for the most basic browsing i.e. scrolling through a webpage or reading a single blog post. For deep internet surfing, in-app browsers suck. You can’t type in a new URL, neither can you open multiple tabs. Also, when you exit/close an in-app browser, you could lose some information you filled out on a website.

Though you can also open URL in other browsers, it requires additional, time-consuming steps; clicking the menu button and tapping “Open in browser”. Thankfully, there are provisions within major apps that allow users directly open URLs in their phone browsers without first using in-app browsers.

How to disable in-app browsers

We have highlighted the necessary steps you should follow to disable the in-app browsers of major apps below.

1. Gmail

To open URLs attachments from your emails directly on your browser, here’s what you need to do.

  • Launch the Gmail app on your phoneTap the menu icon and select “Settings”Select “General Settings”Uncheck the “Open web links in Gmail” option to disable the in-app browser.

2. Telegram

  • Launch Telegram on our device.Tap the hamburger menu button and select “Settings”Select “Chat Settings”Scroll to the Settings section and uncheck the “In-App Browser” option.

3. Twitter

  • Launch the Twitter app on your phoneTap your profile picture at the top-left corner of the appSelect “Settings and privacy”Under the General section, select “Display and Sound”Uncheck the “Use in-app” browser option

4. Facebook

  • Launch the Facebook app on your phoneTap the menu icon and select “Settings & Privacy”Select “Settings” and tap “Media and Contacts”Tap the “Links open externally” option to disable the in-app browser.

Do you love in-app browsers? Or they annoy you and you’d rather have them disabled?

Featured image: AndroidCentral