There are some URLs that make a ton of sense to force-open in specific browsers:
- A Zoom URL should just open in Zoom, not open a browser, then open Zoom.
- If you prefer the Notion desktop app, a URL to a Notion page should open in the app.
- If you prefer the Figma desktop app, a URL to Figma should open in the app.
- If you prefer the Slack desktop app, a URL to Slack should open in the app.
You probably have your own examples, but I can’t imagine the above logic is controversial. Personally, I care more about sending links to specific apps than I do opening certain links in, say, Firefox vs. Chrome.
The trouble is, there is no nuance on macOS as to what app links open in. You set a default browser, and that’s that. There are options (on macOS), though!
- Choosy: $10, normal app, has a UI to configure and an interstitial UI (optional).
- Velja: free, similar to Choosy but fancier in some ways.
- Browserosaurus: open source, install from
brew, pretty light on configurability, forces an interstitial UI. - Finicky: open source, install from
brew, highly configurable through JavaScript, no UI.
That’s a nice selection. Spans the nerdiness spectrum perfectly.
Have you tried Velja? It’s become my go to app to do this:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/velja/id1607635845?mt=12
Free and no interstitial UI.
Don’t forget Sindre Sorhus’s Velja, which does all of the above & is open source to boot!