If iTunes opens automatically every time you click a link to download an iPhone or iPad app, then your browser is set to open the app. You can prevent iTunes from automatically opening links in the App Store by changing the way your browser handles those links.
Why do you want this not to happen? While there are some really great iOS apps out there, it can be pretty frustrating if all you need is to read the app description or see its rating. This is especially annoying if iTunes is not open yet and now you need to wait for it to fully load so you can close it.
Each browser works differently, so check out the set of instructions below that apply to a program that automatically opens links in iTunes.
Tip: iTunes can be a problem when it comes to other tasks. Learn how to prevent iTunes from changing your music folder if it does too.
Why do iOS links open automatically?
This is because one day in the past, when you clicked an iOS link, you were asked if you wanted to open it in iTunes. You must check the box to remember your decision so that every time you open the iTunes link, the app details page will launch in the program and not in your browser.
How it works via a .itms file. Because iTunes associates .itms files with itself, any file on your computer with that extension, or any file you try to open in your browser, runs in iTunes.
Note. The only difference is Chrome and Edge, which do not include the ability to “remember” your response and thus will always open iOS links in iTunes, but only if you manually specify it. You can’t get these browsers to stop asking you, and you can’t remember either yes or no.
Firefox
- Select three is the associated menu button in the top right corner of Firefox.
- Select Options.
- Search for the application in the search bar at the top.
- Find an entry called itms.
- Click the drop-down arrow on the right and select Always Ask.
Opera
Opera has a “Handlers” menu in settings where you can prevent websites from interacting with your programs like iTunes. Unfortunately, you cannot disable only iTunes links, so by following these steps to prevent iTunes from automatically opening when iOS links are clicked, you also stop any other protocol handlers (for example, mailto: < / em> opens your mail program).
- Select the Opera menu in the upper left corner of the program.
- Select Preferences.
- Find handlers.
- Click Site Settings.
- Scroll down and select Handlers.
- Disable the setting by clicking the button, making it white instead of blue.
Internet Explorer
Internet Explorer protocol handlers are not controlled in the browser, but through the control panel. However, this path does not always work, so the best way to make sure you can edit iTunes and Internet Explorer’s association with .itms files is to make a small change to the Windows Registry.
- Open Registry Editor by launching the Run dialog (WIN + R) and typing regedit.
- Go to HKEY_CURRENT_USER SOFTWARE Microsoft Internet Explorer ProtocolExecute itms.
- Double-click WarnOnOpen in the right pane.
- Change the value to 1.
- Click OK.
No reboot is required for the changes to take effect. The next time you open the iOS link in Internet Explorer, you will be prompted to launch iTunes.
Just exit this screen or select Allow, but also check the box that asks if you always need to display this window. This check ensures that iTunes does not automatically open when you click on an iOS link.
Chrome and Edge
Edge and modern versions of the Chrome browser do not automatically launch iTunes, so there is no need to change any settings. However, when you click on the iOS link, you may still be asked to open iTunes.
To prevent this from happening in these browsers when you open the itms link, simply select the option that says don’t open iTunes. In Chrome, choose Cancel or No in Edge.
Or, if you have a copied application link, paste it without pressing Enter and remove the itms: // part at the beginning. By entering this new URL, you will be able to view the app details in a browser instead of iTunes.
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