Systems and methods for transferring link context to a web browser. An example method includes receiving, by a web browser, a web address from a desktop application based on a selection of a link in document displayed in the desktop application; receiving, by a web browser from the application, link context for the selected link, the link context including an identification of the desktop application and an identification of the document; loading a web page corresponding to the received web address; based on the link context, identifying a browser-based application corresponding to the desktop application; launching the browser-based application within the web browser; transmitting the link context to the browser-based application; and displaying at least a portion of the document within the web browser.