How To Fix Gmail Not Opening Links On Android

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2021-05-16
Jide Mbaka

How To Fix Gmail Not Opening Links On Android

The ability to open links directly from the Gmail app cannot the understated. The joy that you don't need to copy the links to an external browser improves the user experience and enhances work on the go. However, the good days are when it works. It becomes annoying and stressful when you can't open links directly from your emails. If you also experience Gmail not opening links on Android, you've just landed on the right page. The solutions in this article will direct you on how to resolve Gmail not opening links on your device.

Let’s get started!

How to fix "Gmail not opening links"

1. Update Android System WebView, Chrome & Gmail

Android System WebView is an inbuilt app powered by Chrome. It is responsible for opening in-app links on your device. Let's say you click on a link in Gmail, it will be opened inside the Gmail app without launching your default browser itself. The aim is to help you get what you want faster without exiting the app you're using. But if the link does not open when clicked, what you need is to update the Android System WebView app from the Play Store. You should update your Chrome browser and Gmail app to ensure the problem is not coming from the old version as well

Here’s how:

  1. From your app drawer, tap “Play Store”
  2. Search for “Android System WebView” by using the search bar at the top.
  3. Tap “Android System WebView” on the list.
  4. If it has a pending update, you should see it on the screen. Tap “Update” to install the latest version.
  5. Now update Chrome and

Simply Restart your device and try opening the Gmail link now. If it still doesn’t lead you to the expected page, you can try uninstalling updates for the WebView app. Here’s how.

  1. Go back to the Android System WebView download page on the Play Store.
  2. Tap “Uninstall” to remove the updates. This won't remove the WebView app from your device but downgrade it to the factory version. This may help if the recent update caused the problem.

2. Disable in-app browser for Gmail

In case Gmail is not opening links after updating/downgrading WebView, the next thing to do is to order Gmail to open hyperlinks in your default browser directly. Doing that will make Gmail bypass System WebView and launch your default browser whenever you click on a link. So, if you’re using Firefox or Safari as your default browser, for instance, the links will open there.

To do that, all you need is to disable the in-app browser for Gmail by following these steps.

  1. Open “Gmail” on your device
  2. Tap the menu button at the upper left corner of the app.
  3. Select “Settings” from the side menu.
  4. Tap “General settings”
  5. Scroll to the bottom and turn off “Open web links in Gmail”.
  6. Restart Gmail and try opening the hyperlinks again.

3. Turn off AdBlocker

If you're using any form of AdBlocker on your device, you might not be able to open web links in Gmail. While Ad blockers does a great job by weeding off ads on your device, it can sometimes go wrong with some of your apps. And now that link does not open when clicked in Gmail, kindly disable your AdBlocker for a while. If you don't have an AdBlocker on your device, kindly take the next solution below.

4. Disable Anti-Virus apps

Equally important, Anti-Virus apps can often disable hyperlinks in your email. Though not all the Anti-Virus or Anti-Malware apps out there, some of the hyperactive ones are fond of turning off links they think are not safe for you. In case you receive a link not clickable in your email, try stopping or pausing your Anti-Virus apps if you have one.

In case you don't have an antivirus app on your device, then that's probably not the source of the problem. Try the other solution below.

5. Reset Gmail

Resetting Gmail is another thing to do - particularly clearing the app cache and data. This will reset any changes you've made in the Gmail app and clean some bugs along the way. Don't be scared. You won't lose your emails. You don't even need to re-enter your account information. Just open Gmail and select your account. Here's how:

  1. On your device, open “Settings”
  2. Tap “Apps & notifications”
  3. Select “See all apps”
  4. Find and tap “Gmail” on the list.
  5. Click on “Storage & Cache”
  6. Hit “Clear storage”. Doing that will erase the app cache and data, which means resetting it.

6. Reset Google Play Services & Framework

When you have problems with any Google app or system apps in general, clearing the cache and app data from "Google Play Service" and "Google Service Framework" can often provide a solution to them. As these two apps are Android core services, resetting them can also help you fix Gmail not opening links on your Android phone.

Here’s how.

  1. Navigate to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps on your phone.
  2. At the upper right corner, tap the 3-dot button and select “Show system”
  3. First, find and tap “Google Play Services” on the app list.
  4. Tap “Storage & cache”
  5. From there, hit “Clear storage”
  6. Tap “CLEAR ALL DATA” on the next screen to confirm the action
  7. Finally, go back and do the same for the “Google Service Framework app on the list.

7. Reset app preferences

Conclusively, one thing you should do if you still can't open links on Gmail is to reset the app preferences of your phone. This will reset all permissions, default apps for opening links, and others. This decision won't affect only Gmail, but all your apps. However, you won't lose data on any app.

  1. Navigate to Settings > System > Reset options.
  2. Tap ‘Reset app preferences
  3. Hit ‘RESET APPS’ below the screen.