Earlier this morning I had a missed call notification in Outlook. I clicked the number, Windows asked me which app I wanted to open that type of link (a tel: URI) and I clicked the wrong option. All of a sudden I had phone numbers opening in the Skype Windows 8 app rather than in my Skype for Business client (previously the Lync client).
It turns out that it’s a relatively simple change to make but it’s not necessarily obvious that the UI to do this is the one to change file type associations (this is a link, not a file…).
- In Control Panel go to Default Programs and then Set Default Programs (the quickest way is to hit the Windows key and type “
Default Programs“). - Scroll down to Lync (desktop). Despite the name, this is the Skype for Business desktop client.
- Select Lync (desktop) and click Chose defaults for this program:
- You’ll see that the URL:Tel Protocol entry is not checked, because it’s associated with Skype:
- Select the Checkbox next to TEL and click Save:
- If you look at the Skype program associations, TEL will now be showing as defaulting to Skype for Business (desktop):
There’s more information in Paul Thurrott’s Windows 8 Tip on Changing File Associations.
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