Brave-browser: [Desktop] Provide option to "always" open files with system default or provide "do not ask again" option

[Brave-Matt]

Description

As it is now, users can disable Webtorrent in settings and after doing this, the browser will prompt the user after clicking/downloading on a magnet link or torrent file, asking whether or not you'd like to use [System default torrent client] to open the file.

However, with this method, users are prompted every time they attempt to download a torrent/magnet file. This can be cumbersome and there should be a way to tell the browser to always default to the users preferred torrent client.

Consideration and Suggestion
When adding this feature, there should also be a way to reverse the decision so that users can choose different clients if necessary.

I would suggest adding a couple checkboxes to the UI for the simplest implementation (plz excuse the hasty shop job):

And in Settings --> Extensions:

cc @yrliou @rebron

[bencefalo]

It would be great if when this is fixed its fixed for other apps and not just torrent... like zoom.us and webex. You are prompted every time to open zoom when browser from a zoom meeting

[Kartereo]

Yes please, we shouldn't have to click yes or no every single time we download a torrent.

[kartsims]

Weirdly, one of my Brave sessions (as in "signed-in as another user") provides this feature. When I click a torrent, it directly opens it with my default app.

I don't know how to apply this option to the other session, but it _should_ be possible.

[Brave-Matt]

I have a user reporting the same situation, but its related to different external apps (in this users case, Roblox). I think it's worth extending this particular option to include any/all external apps.
https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/ecvgjb/this_makes_me_wanna_switch_back_to_chrome/

[Brave-Matt]

Another +1 from a user opening MS Excel files:
https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/es8vkt/is_there_any_way_of_avoiding_this_prompt_every/

[Brave-Matt]

+1 from Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/eswbcb/can_not_get_brave_to_use_torrent_client/

[Sntl09]

Yeah, sorry but this is where Brave lost me and i've uninstalled. It seemed like a great browser but the torrenting issue is a deal breaker for me. +1 to sort this

[eloquentvogon]

I use Zoom multiple times a day and I too need a "Don't ask again" option

[Brave-Matt]

Very similar +1:
https://community.brave.com/t/i-need-help-with-a-thing/107346

[Brave-Matt]

Another similar +1: https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/f3d78s/how_can_i_stop_brave_from_still_asking_if_it/

[Brave-Matt]

+1 from Community:
https://community.brave.com/t/remember-my-choice-when-websites-want-to-open-applications/114589

[michelle911]

+1, I too am forced to use another browser that allows this functionality, but like Brave better - please fix!

[pratyushtewari]

With more apps using the web url mechanism to open the desktop apps, e.g. Zoom, hangouts, download manager, email app, etc please consider "always allow" or "remember this app" feature.

[Brave-Matt]

+1 from Reddit:
https://www.reddit.com/r/brave_browser/comments/g09f6a/how_do_i_get_brave_to_stop_asking_for_permission/

[eljuno]

+1 from Community

https://community.brave.com/t/configure-brave-to-use-transmission-for-magnet-links/120235?u=eljuno

[benwoodward]

+1

I have this issue with "Add to Things 3"

[Xan-Kun]

+1 No Skype for Business = No Brave
Sadly

[ramonsmits]

Zoom, Torrents, Git, etc. it all is SO annoying that I can't just select "Don't ask again for this domain".

[ramonsmits]

Also, can the title and labeling be adjusted? Its not only for Torrents but for all applications.

[ramonsmits]

Title suggestion

Feature Request: Support ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox similarly as Edge and Chrome

https://cloud.google.com/docs/chrome-enterprise/policies/?policy=ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox

For now, I'm saying goodbye to Brave and hello Chrome until this policy is supported.

[bsclifton]

@ramonsmits the group policy should be supported 100% - you can try via registry. More info at https://support.brave.com/hc/en-us/articles/360039248271-Group-Policy

We don't have proper group policy templates (ADM/ADMX) files available yet though... but you might check out https://github.com/Prowler2/Brave-Browser-GPO-Policy

[ramonsmits]

@bsclifton Thanks for mentioning, searching via Google didn't contain these pages. THis is because they do not mention ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox. Based on your comment the following registry file should allow to restore the checkbox again.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox"=dword:41000000

[markstuart]

So, you can get this to work on Linux right now... following the info from @bsclifton and @ramonsmits as well as this: https://www.chromium.org/administrators/linux-quick-start I got to this:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/chromium/policies/managed
sudo chmod -w /etc/chromium/policies/managed
sudo touch /etc/chromium/policies/managed/managed_policies.json

Edit the file using whatever you like (I used nano), and insert this json:

{
  "ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox": true
}

Go to brave://policy in the Brave address bar, and you should see this policy displaying.
Then if you click on a Zoom link or whatever, you should get the checkbox, and not get asked next time.

I guess Brave will possibly stop sharing the config directory with chromium at some point? This may be a short term fix.

My setup:
OS: Ubuntu 18.04.4 LTS
Brave: Version 1.8.86 Chromium: 81.0.4044.129 (Official Build) (64-bit)

[belminf]

Linux one-liner that worked for me:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/chromium/policies/managed && echo '{"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox": true}' | sudo tee /etc/chromium/policies/managed/protocol_open.json

No need to restart. Just needed to select the checkbox the first time opening a protocol. For e.g., for magnet links:

[dasforsyth]

@bsclifton Thanks for mentioning, searching via Google didn't contain these pages. THis is because they do not mention ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox. Based on your comment the following registry file should allow to restore the checkbox again.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox"=dword:41000000

I found the above didn't work for me, but the below did:

```Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox"=dword:1
```

[kmf]

For MacOS
defaults write com.brave.Browser ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox -bool true

[Xan-Kun]

@dasforsyth I can confirm ;-) Works for me too! hooray

[lilleyen]

Linux one-liner that worked for me:

sudo mkdir -p /etc/chromium/policies/managed && echo '{"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox": true}' | sudo tee /etc/chromium/policies/managed/protocol_open.json

No need to restart. Just needed to select the checkbox the first time opening a protocol. For e.g., for magnet links:

This worked perfectly for me. Linux Mint 19.3 Thank you, thank you!!

[Brave-Matt]

We have a Windows user here who seems to have a found a solution to the issue as well:
https://community.brave.com/t/unable-to-remove-confirmation-dialog-on-external-protocol-handler/120826

[fharper]

@kmf solution works for me on macOS, thanks. Note that you need to restart the browser.

[BryanChung]

As of now, I cannot find those Windows registry entries in my system. not sure why. I am on Brave V1.10.97 on Windows 10. Any idea why?

[bsclifton]

@BryanChung you'd have to create the registry structure for them to show up

As shared above, you can make a new file called brave.reg (or similar) and put the following in there:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox"=dword:1

After saving that, you can double click the .reg file and it'll add the entry. Let us know if that solves the issue for you 😄

[BryanChung]

@BryanChung you'd have to create the registry structure for them to show up

As shared above, you can make a new file called brave.reg (or similar) and put the following in there:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox"=dword:1

After saving that, you can double click the .reg file and it'll add the entry. Let us know if that solves the issue for you 😄

Oh! I needed to create one rather than finding it. Haha! Ok thanks!

[apennismightier]

@BryanChung you'd have to create the registry structure for them to show up
As shared above, you can make a new file called brave.reg (or similar) and put the following in there:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox"=dword:1

After saving that, you can double click the .reg file and it'll add the entry. Let us know if that solves the issue for you smile

Oh! I needed to create one rather than finding it. Haha! Ok thanks!
@BryanChung @bsclifton

That directory doesn't exist in either the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or the HKEY_CURRENT_USER for me. I'm on:

Version 1.10.97 Chromium: 83.0.4103.116 (Official Build) (64-bit)
Windows 8.1

[BryanChung]

@BryanChung you'd have to create the registry structure for them to show up
As shared above, you can make a new file called brave.reg (or similar) and put the following in there:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox"=dword:1

After saving that, you can double click the .reg file and it'll add the entry. Let us know if that solves the issue for you smile

Oh! I needed to create one rather than finding it. Haha! Ok thanks!
@BryanChung @bsclifton

That directory doesn't exist in either the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or the HKEY_CURRENT_USER for me. I'm on:

Version 1.10.97 Chromium: 83.0.4103.116 (Official Build) (64-bit)
Windows 8.1

Yeah we need to create the directory. :) You can use mine.

brave.zip

Don't blame me if it breaks. :P

[NRN1337]

@BryanChung you'd have to create the registry structure for them to show up
As shared above, you can make a new file called brave.reg (or similar) and put the following in there:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\BraveSoftware\Brave]
"ExternalProtocolDialogShowAlwaysOpenCheckbox"=dword:1

After saving that, you can double click the .reg file and it'll add the entry. Let us know if that solves the issue for you smile

Oh! I needed to create one rather than finding it. Haha! Ok thanks!
@BryanChung @bsclifton

That directory doesn't exist in either the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or the HKEY_CURRENT_USER for me. I'm on:
Version 1.10.97 Chromium: 83.0.4103.116 (Official Build) (64-bit)
Windows 8.1

Yeah we need to create the directory. :) You can use mine.

brave.zip

Don't blame me if it breaks. :P

Doesn't work for me.

[Xan-Kun]

That directory doesn't exist in either the HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE or the HKEY_CURRENT_USER for me. I'm on:

Version 1.10.97 Chromium: 83.0.4103.116 (Official Build) (64-bit)
Windows 8.1

@apennismightier Yeah, that's why it would have been so important for everybody to post their exact OS :-/ The paths are different, obviously.

Thanks for leading with a good example! :-)

[Bargsteen]

The current solution posted here only works on a per-site basis. It would be great if you could remove the prompt for a specific app for all sites.
Context: I am using Org Capture in Emacs to save bookmarks to a file on disk. This is a reasonably common use case for Emacs users :)

[aspiers]

@Bargsteen I have posted a solution for exactly that here :-)

[4evermaat]

I don't understand why this is an "issue" that hasn't been resolved with brave

A lot of brave versions have come out since this was first reported. Where is the checkbox that can store the user's preference? [I prefer to save the .torrent file]

Realistically, how hard is this to implement?