WSA Link Fixer - Fix Broken Links in Windows 11

🛑 The Problem

If you have installed Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA)—especially custom versions like WSABuilds—you might notice that clicking web links in desktop apps does nothing.

Symptoms:

Clicking links in WhatsApp Desktop, VS Code, or Slack fails silently.
A loading cursor appears for a split second, but no browser opens.
Windows incorrectly tries to handle http/https protocols via Android.

⚡ Automatic Fix

This open-source PowerShell script detects the registry conflict, safely backs up the key, and restores your default browser behavior.

How to use:

Download the script using the blue button above.
Right-click on WSA_Link_Fixer.ps1 and select Run with PowerShell.
Follow the on-screen prompts.

⚠️ Windows Security Note: If the script fails to run right-click the file > Properties > Check Unblock at the bottom > Apply.

🛠 Manual Fix

If you prefer not to use the script, you can fix this manually by editing the Windows Registry. Ensure WSA is completely turned off first.

Step 1: Open Registry Editor

Press Win + R, then type regedit, and press Enter.

Step 2: Navigate to the key

Copy and paste this path into the address bar at the top:

Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Local Settings\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppModel\SystemAppData\MicrosoftCorporationII.WindowsSubsystemForAndroid_8wekyb3d8bbwe\AppUriHandlers

Step 3: Delete or Rename

Find the AppUriHandlers folder (key) and either delete it or rename it to AppUriHandlers_OLD.

Step 4: Restart

Restart your PC or the "Windows Explorer" process via Task Manager to apply changes.