Fixing TEL links with Lync 2013 on Windows 8 with Chrome

Wednesday, April 24, 2013

If you run both Lync 2013 and Chrome on Windows 8 or Windows 8.1 you will find that TEL links open with Chrome instead of the Lync client.  TEL links are hyperlinks used by Lync for one-click dialing.  For example: tel:14155551212

Here's how to fix it:

  • Open an elevated CMD prompt and run the following command:
reg add "HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Lync\Capabilities\URLAssociations" /v TEL /d "callto"
  • Now you are able to change the TEL protocol association to Lync 2013.  Press the Windows key and type "Default Programs" to open the Default Programs utility.  Then click "Associate a file or protocol with a program."


  • Scroll to the bottom of the list and select TEL under the Protocols section.  


  • Click the Change Program button and set Lync (desktop) as the default program.  You will now see that Lync is the default program for the Tel protocol.


  • Click the Close button and close the Default Programs utility.
Now Lync 2013 will open when you click a TEL link in Outlook or from a web page.  Thanks to my colleague, Greyson Mitchem, for the tip.

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