diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index c2a2560d7..422d4cee5 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+# WIP
+
+* merge PR to open links in rich text with a single click
+
 # 4.4.0
 
 ## Goals
diff --git a/www/common/translations/messages.de.json b/www/common/translations/messages.de.json
index d45897457..c7d28db09 100644
--- a/www/common/translations/messages.de.json
+++ b/www/common/translations/messages.de.json
@@ -417,6 +417,9 @@
     "settings_padSpellcheckTitle": "Rechtschreibprüfung",
     "settings_padSpellcheckHint": "Mit dieser Option kann die Rechtschreibprüfung in Rich-Text-Pads aktiviert werden. Rechtschreibfehler werden rot unterstrichen. Halte die Strg- oder Meta-Taste gedrückt, um Verbesserungsvorschläge anzuzeigen.",
     "settings_padSpellcheckLabel": "Rechtschreibprüfung in Rich-Text-Pads aktivieren",
+    "settings_padOpenLinkTitle": "Links direkt öffnen",
+    "settings_padOpenLinkHint": "Mit dieser Optione werden externe Links direkt über Klick in einem neuem Fenster geöffnet.",
+    "settings_padOpenLinkLabel": "Aktiviert Links direkt über Klick zu öffnen",
     "settings_ownDriveTitle": "Account aktualisieren",
     "settings_ownDriveHint": "Aus technischen Gründen sind nicht alle neue Funktionen für ältere Konten verfügbar. Eine kostenlose Aktualisierung wird die neuen Funktionen aktivieren und dein CryptDrive für zukünftige Aktualisierungen vorbereiten.",
     "settings_ownDriveButton": "Upgrade deines Accounts",
diff --git a/www/common/translations/messages.json b/www/common/translations/messages.json
index bac8defb3..c0ecbb163 100644
--- a/www/common/translations/messages.json
+++ b/www/common/translations/messages.json
@@ -434,6 +434,9 @@
     "settings_padSpellcheckTitle": "Spellcheck",
     "settings_padSpellcheckHint": "This option allows you to enable spellcheck in rich text pads. Spelling errors will be underlined in red and you'll have to hold your Ctrl or Meta key while right-clicking to see the correct options.",
     "settings_padSpellcheckLabel": "Enable spell check in rich text pads",
+    "settings_padOpenLinkTitle": "Open links on first click",
+    "settings_padOpenLinkHint": "With this option you can open embedded links on click without the preview popup",
+    "settings_padOpenLinkLabel": "Enable direct link opening rich text pads",
     "settings_ownDriveTitle": "Update Account",
     "settings_ownDriveHint": "Older accounts do not have access to the latest features, due to technical reasons. A free update will enable current features, and prepare your CryptDrive for future updates.",
     "settings_ownDriveButton": "Upgrade your account",
diff --git a/www/pad/inner.js b/www/pad/inner.js
index cb2cb9285..18d4c18a5 100644
--- a/www/pad/inner.js
+++ b/www/pad/inner.js
@@ -1445,7 +1445,9 @@ define([
                     editor.setKeystroke( CKEDITOR.CTRL + CKEDITOR.ALT + styleKeys[tag], tag);
                 });
 
-                Links.init(Ckeditor, editor);
+                var privateData = framework._.cpNfInner.metadataMgr.getPrivateData();
+                var openLinkSetting = Util.find(privateData, ['settings', 'pad', 'openLink']);
+                Links.init(Ckeditor, editor, openLinkSetting);
             }).nThen(function() {
                 // Move ckeditor parts to have a structure like the other apps
                 var $contentContainer = $('#cke_1_contents');
diff --git a/www/pad/links.js b/www/pad/links.js
index 779257dfb..68c59d5b3 100644
--- a/www/pad/links.js
+++ b/www/pad/links.js
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ define([
     '/customize/messages.js'
 ], function ($, h, UIElements, Messages) {
 
-    var onLinkClicked = function (e, inner) {
+    var onLinkClicked = function (e, inner, openLinkSetting) {
         var $target = $(e.target);
         if (!$target.is('a')) {
             $target = $target.closest('a');
@@ -25,6 +25,13 @@ define([
             return;
         }
 
+        var open = function () {
+            var bounceHref = window.location.origin + '/bounce/#' + encodeURIComponent(href);
+            window.open(bounceHref);
+        };
+
+        if (openLinkSetting) { return void open(); }
+
         var $iframe = $('html').find('iframe').contents();
 
         var rect = e.target.getBoundingClientRect();
@@ -48,8 +55,7 @@ define([
         $(a).click(function (ee) {
             ee.preventDefault();
             ee.stopPropagation();
-            var bounceHref = window.location.origin + '/bounce/#' + encodeURIComponent(href);
-            window.open(bounceHref);
+            open();
             $link.remove();
         });
         $link.on('mouseleave', function () {
@@ -61,7 +67,7 @@ define([
     };
 
     return {
-        init : function (Ckeditor, editor) {
+        init : function (Ckeditor, editor, openLinkSetting) {
             if (!Ckeditor.plugins.link) { return; }
 
             var inner = editor.document.$.body;
@@ -70,7 +76,7 @@ define([
             $inner.click(function (e) {
                 removeClickedLink($inner);
                 if (e.target.nodeName.toUpperCase() === 'A' || $(e.target).closest('a').length) {
-                    return void onLinkClicked(e, inner);
+                    return void onLinkClicked(e, inner, openLinkSetting);
                 }
             });
 
diff --git a/www/settings/inner.js b/www/settings/inner.js
index 85aa27c10..75d7b05f1 100644
--- a/www/settings/inner.js
+++ b/www/settings/inner.js
@@ -84,6 +84,7 @@ define([
             'cp-settings-pad-width',
             'cp-settings-pad-spellcheck',
             'cp-settings-pad-notif',
+            'cp-settings-pad-openlink',
         ],
         'code': [ // Msg.settings_cat_code
             'cp-settings-code-indent-unit',
@@ -1359,6 +1360,43 @@ define([
         cb($cbox);
     }, true);
 
+    create['pad-openlink'] = function() {
+        var $div = $('<div>', {
+            'class': 'cp-settings-pad-openlink cp-sidebarlayout-element'
+        });
+        $('<label>').text(Messages.settings_padOpenLinkTitle).appendTo($div);
+        $('<span>', { 'class': 'cp-sidebarlayout-description' })
+            .text(Messages.settings_padOpenLinkHint).appendTo($div);
+
+        var $ok = $('<span>', { 'class': 'fa fa-check', title: Messages.saved });
+        var $spinner = $('<span>', { 'class': 'fa fa-spinner fa-pulse' });
+
+        var $cbox = $(UI.createCheckbox('cp-settings-pad-openlink',
+            Messages.settings_padOpenLinkLabel,
+            false, { label: { class: 'noTitle' } }));
+        var $checkbox = $cbox.find('input').on('change', function() {
+            $spinner.show();
+            $ok.hide();
+            var val = $checkbox.is(':checked');
+            common.setAttribute(['pad', 'openLink'], val, function() {
+                $spinner.hide();
+                $ok.show();
+            });
+        });
+        $cbox.appendTo($div);
+
+        $ok.hide().appendTo($cbox);
+        $spinner.hide().appendTo($cbox);
+
+        common.getAttribute(['pad', 'openLink'], function(e, val) {
+            if (e) { return void console.error(e); }
+            if (val) {
+                $checkbox.attr('checked', 'checked');
+            }
+        });
+        return $div;
+    };
+
     // Code settings
 
     create['code-indent-unit'] = function() {