diff --git a/.env b/.env
index 0b6d5c3c8..db206b8e0 100644
--- a/.env
+++ b/.env
@@ -1 +1 @@
-VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME=steve_test_bot
+VITE_TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME=steve_test_robot
diff --git a/src/pages/Home.tsx b/src/pages/Home.tsx
index 4e5edbab6..2c3a01ab8 100644
--- a/src/pages/Home.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/Home.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import { useState } from 'react';
-import { openUrl } from '@tauri-apps/plugin-opener';
+import { openUrl } from '../utils/openUrl';
 import { TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME } from '../utils/config';
 import ConnectionIndicator from '../components/ConnectionIndicator';
 
@@ -24,11 +24,7 @@ const Home = () => {
 
   // Handle Telegram bot link
   const handleStartCooking = async () => {
-    try {
-      await openUrl(`https://t.me/${TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME}`);
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Failed to open Telegram:', error);
-    }
+    await openUrl(`https://t.me/${TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME}`);
   };
 
   const handleManageConnections = () => {
diff --git a/src/pages/onboarding/steps/GetStartedStep.tsx b/src/pages/onboarding/steps/GetStartedStep.tsx
index 0fe67063b..7763810e2 100644
--- a/src/pages/onboarding/steps/GetStartedStep.tsx
+++ b/src/pages/onboarding/steps/GetStartedStep.tsx
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { openUrl } from '@tauri-apps/plugin-opener';
+import { openUrl } from '../../../utils/openUrl';
 import { TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME } from '../../../utils/config';
 import ConnectionIndicator from '../../../components/ConnectionIndicator';
 
@@ -8,15 +8,9 @@ interface GetStartedStepProps {
 
 const GetStartedStep = ({ onComplete }: GetStartedStepProps) => {
   const handleOpenTelegram = async () => {
-    try {
-      // Open Telegram and navigate to home immediately
-      await openUrl(`https://t.me/${TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME}`);
-      onComplete();
-    } catch (error) {
-      console.error('Failed to open Telegram:', error);
-      // Still navigate to home even if opening Telegram fails
-      onComplete();
-    }
+    // Open Telegram and navigate to home immediately
+    await openUrl(`https://t.me/${TELEGRAM_BOT_USERNAME}`);
+    onComplete();
   };
 
   return (
diff --git a/src/utils/openUrl.ts b/src/utils/openUrl.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..678791199
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/utils/openUrl.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+import { openUrl as tauriOpenUrl } from '@tauri-apps/plugin-opener';
+
+/**
+ * Opens a URL in the default browser or app.
+ * Works in both Tauri desktop app and regular browser environments.
+ */
+export const openUrl = async (url: string): Promise<void> => {
+  // Check if we're running in Tauri desktop app
+  if ((window as any).__TAURI__) {
+    try {
+      await tauriOpenUrl(url);
+      return;
+    } catch (error) {
+      console.error('Failed to open URL with Tauri:', error);
+      // Fall through to browser fallback
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Browser fallback
+  window.open(url, '_blank', 'noopener,noreferrer');
+};