Change the default app for calling protocol from callto: to tel:

Change the default app for calling protocol from callto: to tel:


For User's Device:

To change the default calling protocol from callto: to tel: on a PC, you need to adjust the Windows default app settings by protocol. This tells your computer to use a specific app (like Phone Link, Skype, or a web browser) when clicking phone numbers. 

For Windows 11
  1. Open Settings
  2. Select Apps on the left menu.
  3. Click Default apps.
    

     4. Scroll down to the bottom and select Choose default apps by protocol.
     5. Scroll down the list to find TEL (URL:TEL Protocol).
     6. Click on the entry and select your preferred application (e.g., Phone Link, Skype, or Chrome).

 

For Windows 10
  1. Open the Start menu and select Settings (gear icon).
  2. Click Apps and select Default apps on the left pane.  
    

    3. Scroll down and select Choose default apps by protocol.
    4. Find TEL in the list, click the current app, and select your preferred app.



For IT Providers ( Whole Organization )

Below are some methods that an IT admin can deploy default calling protocol for all devices in the organization.

1. Using Group Policy (GPO)

  • Step 1: On a reference machine, configure the default app for TEL: manually (e.g., Skype, Teams, Zoom Phone).
  • Step 2: Export the default app associations using PowerShell script
Dism /Online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\AppAssoc.xml

  • Step 3: Edit the XML file to ensure the TEL: protocol is mapped to your desired app. Example snippet:
  • Step 4: Deploy via Group Policy:
    • Go to Computer Configuration → Administrative Templates → Windows Components → File Explorer.
    • Enable Set a default associations configuration file.
    • Point it to the XML file (stored on a shared network path accessible to all devices).
  • Result: All devices will apply the same default app for TEL: links.

2. Using Microsoft Intune (Endpoint Manager)

  • Step 1: Create the same XML file with the default app associations.
  • Step 2: In Intune, create a Device Configuration Profile:
    • Platform: Windows 10 and later
    • Profile type: Custom
  • Step 3: Add an OMA-URI setting:
    • Name: DefaultAppAssociations
    • OMA-URI: ./Device/Vendor/MSFT/Policy/Config/ApplicationDefaults/DefaultAssociationsConfiguration
    • Data type: String
    • Value: XML file contents
  • Step 4: Assign the profile to your device groups.
  • Result: All enrolled devices will enforce the TEL protocol association.

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