diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.cpp
index 5776c7fa4..ff1847e68 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.cpp
@@ -26,7 +26,6 @@
 #include <QItemDelegate>
 
 #include "ForumsDialog.h"
-#include "RetroShareLink.h"
 #include "forums/CreateForum.h"
 #include "forums/CreateForumMsg.h"
 #include "forums/ForumDetails.h"
@@ -154,7 +153,6 @@ ForumsDialog::ForumsDialog(QWidget *parent)
     connect( ui.threadTreeWidget, SIGNAL( itemSelectionChanged() ), this, SLOT( changedThread () ) );
     connect( ui.threadTreeWidget, SIGNAL( itemClicked(QTreeWidgetItem*,int)), this, SLOT( clickedThread (QTreeWidgetItem*,int) ) );
     connect( ui.viewBox, SIGNAL( currentIndexChanged ( int ) ), this, SLOT( changedViewBox () ) );
-    connect( ui.postText, SIGNAL( anchorClicked(const QUrl &)), SLOT(anchorClicked(const QUrl &)));
 
     connect(ui.expandButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(togglethreadview()));
     connect(ui.previousButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(previousMessage()));
@@ -200,9 +198,6 @@ ForumsDialog::ForumsDialog(QWidget *parent)
     forummenu->addSeparator();
     ui.forumpushButton->setMenu(forummenu);
 
-    ui.postText->setOpenExternalLinks ( false );
-    ui.postText->setOpenLinks ( false );
-
     /* create forum tree */
     m_ItemFont = QFont("ARIAL", 10);
     m_ItemFont.setBold(true);
@@ -1721,15 +1716,6 @@ void ForumsDialog::replytomessage()
     }
 }
 
-void ForumsDialog::anchorClicked (const QUrl& link )
-{
-    #ifdef FORUM_DEBUG
-    std::cerr << "ForumsDialog::anchorClicked link.scheme() : " << link.scheme().toStdString() << std::endl;
-    #endif
-
-    RetroShareLink::processUrl(link, RSLINK_PROCESS_NOTIFY_ALL);
-}
-
 void ForumsDialog::filterRegExpChanged()
 {
 //    QRegExp regExp(ui.filterPatternLineEdit->text(),  Qt::CaseInsensitive , QRegExp::FixedString);
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.h
index 8ea3c24b4..cb827ee8b 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.h
@@ -38,7 +38,6 @@ public:
     virtual void updateDisplay();
 
 private slots:
-    void anchorClicked (const QUrl &);
     /** Create the context popup menu and it's submenus */
     void forumListCustomPopupMenu( QPoint point );
     void threadListCustomPopupMenu( QPoint point );
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.ui b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.ui
index 8383a7c2e..411706e53 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.ui
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/ForumsDialog.ui
@@ -1228,7 +1228,10 @@ border-image: url(:/images/closepressed.png)
         </font>
        </property>
        <property name="openExternalLinks">
-        <bool>false</bool>
+        <bool>true</bool>
+       </property>
+       <property name="openLinks">
+        <bool>true</bool>
        </property>
       </widget>
      </widget>
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
index b07cdb83f..bcbc23f98 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.cpp
@@ -25,6 +25,8 @@
 #include <QIcon>
 #include <QPixmap>
 #include <QColorDialog>
+#include <QDesktopServices>
+#include <QUrl>
 
 #ifdef BLOGS
 #include "gui/unfinished/blogs/BlogsDialog.h"
@@ -51,6 +53,7 @@
 #include "bwgraph/bwgraph.h"
 #include "help/browser/helpbrowser.h"
 #include "chat/PopupChatDialog.h"
+#include "RetroShareLink.h"
 
 #ifdef UNFINISHED
 #include "unfinished/ApplicationWindow.h"
@@ -155,6 +158,9 @@ MainWindow::MainWindow(QWidget* parent, Qt::WFlags flags)
 
     setWindowTitle(tr("RetroShare %1 a secure decentralised communication platform").arg(retroshareVersion()));
 
+    /* add url handler for RetroShare links */
+    QDesktopServices::setUrlHandler("retroshare", this, "linkActivated");
+
     // Setting icons
     this->setWindowIcon(QIcon(QString::fromUtf8(":/images/rstray3.png")));
 
@@ -1181,3 +1187,8 @@ void MainWindow::statusChangedComboBox(int index)
     /* no object known */
     setStatus(NULL, statusComboBox->itemData(index, Qt::UserRole).toInt());
 }
+
+void MainWindow::linkActivated(const QUrl &url)
+{
+    RetroShareLink::processUrl(url, RSLINK_PROCESS_NOTIFY_ALL);
+}
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.h
index 7cfe04c39..d0cf54384 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MainWindow.h
@@ -196,6 +196,7 @@ private slots:
     
     void on_actionQuick_Start_Wizard_activated();
 
+    void linkActivated(const QUrl &url);
 
 private:
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.cpp
index 33a6e462b..7e617aa19 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.cpp
@@ -33,7 +33,6 @@
 
 #include "MessagesDialog.h"
 #include "msgs/MessageComposer.h"
-#include "gui/RetroShareLink.h"
 #include "util/printpreview.h"
 #include "settings/rsharesettings.h"
 #include "util/misc.h"
@@ -238,8 +237,6 @@ MessagesDialog::MessagesDialog(QWidget *parent)
     connect(ui.expandFilesButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(togglefileview()));
     connect(ui.downloadButton, SIGNAL(clicked()), this, SLOT(getallrecommended()));
 
-    connect( ui.msgText, SIGNAL( anchorClicked(const QUrl &)), SLOT(anchorClicked(const QUrl &)));
-
     connect(ui.actionTextBesideIcon, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(buttonstextbesideicon()));
     connect(ui.actionIconOnly, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(buttonsicononly()));
     connect(ui.actionTextUnderIcon, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(buttonstextundericon()));
@@ -256,8 +253,6 @@ MessagesDialog::MessagesDialog(QWidget *parent)
     connect(ui.ccText, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), this, SLOT(linkActivated(QString)));
     connect(ui.bccText, SIGNAL(linkActivated(QString)), this, SLOT(linkActivated(QString)));
 
-    ui.msgText->setOpenLinks(false);
-
     m_eListMode = LIST_NOTHING;
 
     mCurrCertId = "";
@@ -1844,13 +1839,6 @@ void MessagesDialog::printpreview()
     preview->show();
 }
 
-void MessagesDialog::anchorClicked (const QUrl& link )
-{
-    std::cerr << "MessagesDialog::anchorClicked link.scheme() : " << link.scheme().toStdString() << std::endl;
-
-    RetroShareLink::processUrl(link, RSLINK_PROCESS_NOTIFY_ALL);
-}
-
 bool MessagesDialog::fileSave()
 {
     if (fileName.isEmpty())
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.h
index 118fca555..51f727be0 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.h
@@ -87,8 +87,6 @@ private slots:
 
   void emptyTrash();
 
-  void anchorClicked (const QUrl &);
-  
   void getcurrentrecommended();
   void getallrecommended();
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.ui b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.ui
index 916cffcb0..4cfce3fc7 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.ui
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/MessagesDialog.ui
@@ -1303,6 +1303,9 @@ padding: 4px;
                <property name="openExternalLinks">
                 <bool>true</bool>
                </property>
+               <property name="openLinks">
+                <bool>true</bool>
+               </property>
               </widget>
              </item>
              <item row="2" column="0">
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.cpp
index 5201bc50d..717a8814b 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.cpp
@@ -135,7 +135,6 @@ PeersDialog::PeersDialog(QWidget *parent)
     connect( ui.actionSet_your_Avatar, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(getAvatar()));
     connect( ui.actionSet_your_Personal_Message, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(statusmessage()));
     connect( ui.addfileButton, SIGNAL(clicked() ), this , SLOT(addExtraFile()));
-    connect( ui.msgText, SIGNAL(anchorClicked(const QUrl &)), SLOT(anchorClicked(const QUrl &)));
 
     connect(ui.actionAdd_Friend, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(addFriend()));
     connect(ui.action_Hide_Offline_Friends, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(insertPeers()));
@@ -227,9 +226,6 @@ PeersDialog::PeersDialog(QWidget *parent)
 
     ui.menupushButton->setMenu(menu);
 
-    //ui.msgText->setOpenExternalLinks ( false );
-    //ui.msgText->setOpenLinks ( false );
-
     setAcceptDrops(true);
     ui.lineEdit->setAcceptDrops(false);
 
@@ -1868,15 +1864,6 @@ void PeersDialog::fileHashingFinished(AttachFileItem* file)
     setFont();
 }
 
-void PeersDialog::anchorClicked (const QUrl& link ) 
-{
-    #ifdef PEERS_DEBUG
-    std::cerr << "PeersDialog::anchorClicked link.scheme() : " << link.scheme().toStdString() << std::endl;
-    #endif
-
-    RetroShareLink::processUrl(link, RSLINK_PROCESS_NOTIFY_ALL);
-}
-
 void PeersDialog::dropEvent(QDropEvent *event)
 {
     if (!(Qt::CopyAction & event->possibleActions()))
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.h
index b46ff18f8..393c860f5 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.h
@@ -155,7 +155,6 @@ private slots:
     void loadmypersonalstatus();
 
     void addExtraFile();
-    void anchorClicked (const QUrl &);
     void addAttachment(std::string);
 
     bool fileSave();
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.ui b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.ui
index f839627e7..77278324b 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.ui
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/PeersDialog.ui
@@ -721,9 +721,6 @@ background: white;}</string>
          <attribute name="headerDefaultSectionSize">
           <number>200</number>
          </attribute>
-         <attribute name="headerDefaultSectionSize">
-          <number>200</number>
-         </attribute>
          <column>
           <property name="text">
            <string>Friends</string>
@@ -958,7 +955,7 @@ background: white;}</string>
                <bool>true</bool>
               </property>
               <property name="openLinks">
-               <bool>false</bool>
+               <bool>true</bool>
               </property>
              </widget>
              <widget class="QWidget" name="layoutWidget_2">
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.cpp b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.cpp
index 52934e578..bd25be315 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.cpp
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.cpp
@@ -126,7 +126,6 @@ PopupChatDialog::PopupChatDialog(const std::string &id, const QString &name, QWi
   connect(ui.actionSave_Chat_History, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(fileSaveAs()));
   connect(ui.actionClearOfflineMessages, SIGNAL(triggered()), this, SLOT(clearOfflineMessages()));
 
-  connect(ui.textBrowser, SIGNAL(anchorClicked(const QUrl &)), SLOT(anchorClicked(const QUrl &)));
 
   connect(NotifyQt::getInstance(), SIGNAL(peerStatusChanged(const QString&, int)), this, SLOT(updateStatus(const QString&, int)));
   connect(NotifyQt::getInstance(), SIGNAL(peerHasNewCustomStateString(const QString&, const QString&)), this, SLOT(updatePeersCustomStateString(const QString&, const QString&)));
@@ -138,9 +137,6 @@ PopupChatDialog::PopupChatDialog(const std::string &id, const QString &name, QWi
   // Create the status bar
   resetStatusBar();
 
-  //ui.textBrowser->setOpenExternalLinks ( false );
-  //ui.textBrowser->setOpenLinks ( false );
-
   ui.textboldButton->setIcon(QIcon(QString(":/images/edit-bold.png")));
   ui.textunderlineButton->setIcon(QIcon(QString(":/images/edit-underline.png")));
   ui.textitalicButton->setIcon(QIcon(QString(":/images/edit-italic.png")));
@@ -1002,7 +998,7 @@ void PopupChatDialog::fileHashingFinished(AttachFileItem* file)
     message+= RetroShareLink(QString::fromUtf8(file->FileName().c_str()),file->FileSize(),QString::fromStdString(file->FileHash())).toHtmlSize();
 
 #ifdef CHAT_DEBUG
-    std::cerr << "PopupChatDialog::anchorClicked message : " << message.toStdString() << std::endl;
+    std::cerr << "PopupChatDialog::fileHashingFinished message : " << message.toStdString() << std::endl;
 #endif
 
     std::wstring msg = message.toStdWString();
@@ -1013,16 +1009,6 @@ void PopupChatDialog::fileHashingFinished(AttachFileItem* file)
     }
 }
 
-void PopupChatDialog::anchorClicked (const QUrl& link ) 
-{
-#ifdef CHAT_DEBUG
-	std::cerr << "PopupChatDialog::anchorClicked link.scheme() : " << link.scheme().toStdString() << std::endl;
-#endif
-
-	std::list<std::string> srcIds;
-	RetroShareLink::processUrl(link, RSLINK_PROCESS_NOTIFY_ALL);
-}
-
 void PopupChatDialog::dropEvent(QDropEvent *event)
 {
     if (!(Qt::CopyAction & event->possibleActions()))
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.h b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.h
index d6600b6ba..97e80a073 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.h
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.h
@@ -71,7 +71,6 @@ public slots:
     void resetStatusBar() ;
     void updateStatusTyping() ;
     void updateStatusString(const QString& peer_id, const QString& statusString) ;
-    void anchorClicked (const QUrl &);
 
     void updateStatus(const QString &peer_id, int status);
 
diff --git a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.ui b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.ui
index ba8dfe264..77188f292 100644
--- a/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.ui
+++ b/retroshare-gui/src/gui/chat/PopupChatDialog.ui
@@ -751,7 +751,7 @@ p, li { white-space: pre-wrap; }
             <bool>true</bool>
            </property>
            <property name="openLinks">
-            <bool>false</bool>
+            <bool>true</bool>
            </property>
           </widget>
          </item>