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How Does the Lync Client Automatically Launch When Opening a Lync Online Meeting URL?

I was recently working with a colleague to determine how to control the behavior of the Lync client when joining Lync Online Meetings (e.g. https://meet.contoso.com/jdoe/XXXXX). If everything is set up correctly, everything magically works! Well what happens if you want to use the Lync Web App to join meetings (rare) or if the Lync client simply stops opening the Online Meeting URLs? If you find yourself asking this question, read on.
The following steps assume that Internet Explorer is the default web browser. If Internet Explorer is not the default browser and you’re trying to make Online Meetings work with Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox, check out this article.
The Online Meeting integration experience between the Lync client, Internet Explorer, and Outlook is basically controlled by the Internet Options found within Internet Explorer. If you attempt to modify the Internet Options setting found within the Control Panel, you’ll have a different result which I’ll explain below.
To ensure Lync Online Meeting URLs properly launch with the Lync client, follow the steps below.

  • Open Internet Explorer.
  • Press the Alt key to bring up the Internet Explorer menu bar.
  • Click Tools | Internet Options.
  • Once the Internet Options screen appears, click the Programs tab.
  • Click Manage add-ons.

Figure 1 – Programs Menu

  • Click the Currently loaded add-ons drop-down near the left-hand side and select All add-ons.

Figure 2 – All Add-Ons

  • Once all the add-ons appear, locate MeetingJoinHelper Class. The MeetingJoinHelper Class add-on enables the MeetingJoinAxOC.dll ActiveX Control to launch the Lync client (C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft LyncMeetingJoinAxOC.dll).
    • Ensure the status of the MeetingJoinHelper Class is Enabled.
    • If the status is set to disabled, click the Enable button near the bottom right-hand corner.
  • Click Close.

Figure 3 – MeetingJoinHelper Class

  • As I mentioned above, if you attempt to modify the Internet Options setting found within the Control Panel, you’ll have a different result of add-ons. In the figure below, notice the same All add-ons window appears, but half the add-ons are missing. To make life easier, simply access the Internet Options through IE.

Figure 4 – Missing MeetingJoinHelper Class

  • Moving on, the next item to check is the file types and protocols. Back at the main Programs menu, click Set Programs.

Figure 5 – Programs Menu

  • At the default Programs menu, click Associate a file type or protocol with a program.

Figure 6 – File types and Protocols

  • Locate the .OCSMEET name and ensure the current default program is set to Microsoft Lync 2010.
    • If the current default program is set something besides Microsoft Lync 2010, click Change Program and browse to the communicator executable located at C:Program Files (x86)Microsoft Lynccommunicator.exe.

Figure 7 – OCSMEET

  • Click Close.
  • Click OK.
  • There is no need to completely close Lync, Internet Explorer, or Outlook after the change. The modification will be instant.

Finally, depending on the state of the MeetJoinHelper add-on, the following will be experienced when launching a Lync Online Meeting URL

Figure 8 – MeetJoinHelper Difference

Hope this helps. Comments are always welcomed!

Thoughts on “How Does the Lync Client Automatically Launch When Opening a Lync Online Meeting URL?”

  1. Followed the instruction.
    see details below
    – MeetingJoinHelper Class is ENABLED
    However, the .ocsmeet file does not show up as valid file type to associate with.
    In addition, Microsoft lync does not show up as default program
    Just additional info
    .ocrec is associated with msft lync recording manager.

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Keenan Crockett

Skype for Business Team Lead & Senior Solution Architect at Perficient | Microsoft Certified Master: Lync Server | Focused on deploying Microsoft UC solutions

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