How to Make Instagram Open Your Link in an External Browser
TL;DR Summary: Instagram links open in the in-app browser by default, causing issues with analytics and site features. Changing this setting within Instagram isn't reliable. TapClick.to offers a solution by redirecting links to open in the user's system browser, ensuring better functionality and user experience. Read on to learn how to implement this fix and why it's crucial for accurate analytics, affiliate tracking, payments, and more.
How to Make an Instagram Profile Link Open in an External Browser (iOS and Android)
Hereโs the honest truth: Instagram forces links to open in its in-app browser, and you canโt reliably change that from inside Instagram.
People keep searching for ways to make Instagram open links in Chrome or Safari by default. Youโll find forum threads, half-answers, and a โfixโ that tells you to change a setting that most users donโt even have.
My Shortcut Story…
I started noticing something odd: sometimes profile links on Instagram opened in Safari on my iPhone. I couldnโt reproduce it or find a setting that made it happen consistently. After digging through docs and threads, I realized there wasnโt a dependable switch. So I built a simple tool that reliably opens your link in the userโs real browserโthat tool is TapClick.to.
- Instagramโs in-app browser breaks analytics, payments, and some site features.
- You canโt force Instagram to use Chrome/Safari via a reliable in-app setting.
- Use a smart redirect link that opens the system browser. Thatโs exactly what TapClick.to does.
Why Instagram Wonโt Open Links Externally
- Instagram defaults to its in-app browser for bio links, story links, and DMs.
- Even when users figure out in the settings how to manually choose โOpen in Chrome/Safari,โ Instagram doesnโt always remember it.
- Creators and brands canโt change this behavior from their account settings.
Why Most โFixesโ Donโt Actually Fix Anything
- โThereโs a hidden settingโ โ usually not there or not persistent.
- โClear cache / reinstallโ โ temporary at best; behavior returns.
- โTap the menu and switch every timeโ โ friction your audience wonโt tolerate.
These are workarounds, not a consistent solution.
The Only Reliable Fix: Use a Redirect That Opens the Real Browser

Since you canโt change Instagramโs behavior, change the link. A smart redirect can hand off to the deviceโs default browser (Chrome/Safari) so users leave the in-app webview and land on your real site.
TapClick.to does this for you:
- Paste your destination URL.
- Get a special redirect link.
- Use that link anywhere in Instagram (bio, stories, DMs) to open in the external browser.
Why This Matters: Real-World Wins
- Accurate analytics: UTM tracking and cookies behave normally.
- Affiliate reliability: Tracking parameters are less likely to break.
- Payments & checkouts: Stripe/PayPal flows behave the way they should.
- Password managers: Auto-fill works in the system browser.
- Fewer weird bugs: You avoid IGโs webview quirks.
- Track clicks: Like a good tool should do, we tell you how many times each link is clicked so you can track your campaigns.
How to Use TapClick.to (60 Seconds)
- Go to TapClick.to.
- Paste your normal link (product page, newsletter, checkout, etc.).
- Copy your new TapClick.to link.
- Use it anywhere inside Instagram: bio, story link sticker, DMs.
Thatโs it. Your visitors land in Chrome/Safari instead of the IG browser.
Tip: Create an account to edit your links later and see stats.
FAQs on Making an IG Profile Link Open in a Browser
Can I force Instagram to always use Chrome or Safari?
Not from inside Instagram. Thereโs no reliable, permanent toggle. Use a redirect that opens the system browser.
Why does Instagram keep users in the in-app browser?
Retention and measurement. Itโs how many social apps work.
Does TapClick.to cost anything?
Itโs free to start and built specifically for this use case.
Does this help with Facebook or TikTok too?
Yesโother apps use similar in-app browsers. The same link helps there.
Technical Notes (For Devs)
Client-side โforce externalโ tricks are unreliable in Instagramโs webview. The dependable approach is a server-side redirect pattern that hands off to the system browser with the full destination URL preserved (including UTM and affiliate params). Thatโs the route TapClick.to takesโno custom code or user fiddling required.
Try It
If your audience gets stuck inside Instagramโs browserโor your analytics, checkout, or affiliate tracking break thereโuse a link that gets them into the real browser.
Glossary
In-App Browser (WebView): A mini browser embedded inside an app (like Instagram) that opens links without leaving the app.
System Browser: The deviceโs default full browser (Safari on iOS, Chrome on Android).
Redirect: A server instruction that forwards a visitor from one URL to another.
UTM Parameters: Tracking tags added to URLs to measure campaigns in analytics tools.
Affiliate Parameters: URL parameters used to attribute referrals and commissions.
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