It sounds like a variation on the old problem described in the following article:

https://www.slipstick.com/problems/this-operation-has-been-cancelled-due-to-restrictions/

That occurs when you uninstall your default browser and Office applications remain fixated on the old folder and are too stupid to change to the Windows default.

With Firefox, it can occur if you uninstall from the 32-bit programs folder and reinstall into the 64-bit programs folder.

Anyway, the registry fix mentioned in the article might be the most direct approach, although I don't know whether it is up-to-date with Windows changes.

Thank you for the email.I am not happy about editing the registry.I have not uninstalled or changed anything.The problem does not occur if I use Chrome, Firefox is my default.Could the problem be caused by the configuration of Firefox as it only happens in Firefox?

The problem does not occur if you set Chrome to be your default browser, but does occur if you set Firefox to be your default browser?

Firefox is set to be my default browser at all times but when I used chrome without using chrome as the default browser the problem did not arise

editman said

Firefox is set to be my default browser at all times but when I used chrome without using chrome as the default browser the problem did not arise

Okay, if I understand:

• Firefox is your default browser in Windows
• When Firefox is open, but not Chrome, links in Word won't open
• When Chrome is open, whether Firefox is open or not, links in Word open in Chrome

Is that what's happening?

Yes that is the situation

I guess Office 2013 prefers Chrome now?

Have you tried changing your Windows default browser to Chrome, then testing whether Office can follow the new instructions by closing Chrome and testing what happens?

If that works, try changing it back to Firefox.

If it doesn't work with Chrome as default browser and Chrome closed, it's probably the registry problem.

1 Changed default browser to Chrome 2 Shut Chrome 3 Error message shows in Word 4 Made Firefox default 5 Shut Firefox 6 Opened Chrome 7 Got error message in Word

See what I mean about Office being too stupid to following your Windows default browser selection? Please check out the Slipstick article linked above.