[Bug]: Anchor tags are not working as expected.

[sonikasharma1403]

Describe the bug

https://stackblitz.com/edit/github-rpsmktcz?file=src%2Fstories%2FConfigure.mdx&preset=node

clicking on create new application keeps the iframe.html in the url. with storybook 8 the redirection was working as expected

Reproduction link

https://stackblitz.com/edit/github-rpsmktcz?file=src%2Fstories%2FConfigure.mdx&preset=node

Reproduction steps

No response

System

Storybook Environment Info:

  System:
    OS: macOS 14.7.6
    CPU: (8) arm64 Apple M3
    Shell: 5.9 - /bin/zsh
  Binaries:
    Node: 23.4.0 - ~/.nvm/versions/node/v23.4.0/bin/node
    Yarn: 1.22.22 - ~/.nvm/versions/node/v23.4.0/bin/yarn <----- active
    npm: 10.9.2 - ~/.nvm/versions/node/v23.4.0/bin/npm
  Browsers:
    Chrome: 139.0.7258.67
    Edge: 139.0.3405.86
    Safari: 17.6
  npmPackages:
    @storybook/addon-a11y: ^9.1.0 => 9.1.0 
    @storybook/addon-coverage: 2.0.0 => 2.0.0 
    @storybook/addon-designs: 10.0.2 => 10.0.2 
    @storybook/addon-docs: 9.1.0 => 9.1.0 
    @storybook/addon-links: ^9.1.0 => 9.1.0 
    @storybook/addon-vitest: 9.1.0 => 9.1.0 
    @storybook/react-vite: ^9.1.0 => 9.1.0 
    @storybook/test-runner: 0.23.0 => 0.23.0 
    eslint-plugin-storybook: 9.1.0 => 9.1.0 
    storybook: ^9.1.0 => 9.1.0 
    storybook-addon-designs: 6.3.1 => 6.3.1 
    storybook-addon-mock: ^6.0.1 => 6.0.1 
    storybook-addon-tag-badges: 2.0.1 => 2.0.1 
    storybook-addon-test-codegen: 2.0.1 => 2.0.1

Additional context

No response

[dosubot]

This is an intentional change in Storybook 9.x: anchor tags in MDX/docs are now rendered as custom components that intercept clicks and handle navigation internally, keeping you inside the iframe and preventing a full page reload or top-level URL change. This is why you see iframe.html remain in the URL and redirection doesn't work as it did in Storybook 8. External links and those with target="_blank" still use default browser navigation, but internal links are always intercepted and routed within Storybook's app-like navigation system see source.

There is currently no global config or extension point to restore traditional anchor navigation for all internal links. If you need a link to break out of the iframe and perform a full browser navigation, use <a href="..." target="_top">...</a>. For more advanced cases, you can inject a custom click handler (for example, via a decorator) that calls window.top.location directly.

Keep in mind: these workarounds only apply to links you control in your MDX/docs. Internal Storybook navigation (between stories/docs) is intentionally scoped to the iframe for performance and UX reasons, and can't be globally reverted to the old behavior see source.

To reply, just mention @dosu.

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[sonikasharma1403]

Tried the same https://stackblitz.com/edit/github-rpsmktcz?file=src%2Fstories%2FConfigure.mdx&preset=node but it is not working

[dosubot]

In Storybook 9.x, anchor tags in MDX/docs are intercepted by a custom component, so even using <a target="_top"> won't break out of the iframe or trigger a full page reload—clicks are still handled internally see source.

To force navigation outside the Storybook iframe, you need a custom click handler like:

<a href="#" onClick={() => window.top.location = 'https://your-url.com'}>
  Go to external page
</a>

This approach should work for links you control in your MDX/docs. If it still doesn't work in StackBlitz, try it in your local environment—sometimes online sandboxes add extra restrictions. If you share the exact code you tried and what happens when you click, I can help debug further.

To reply, just mention @dosu.

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[sonikasharma1403]

tried.. not working

[dosubot]

Storybook 9.x intercepts anchor tag clicks in MDX/docs using a custom component, so even custom click handlers like onClick={() => window.top.location = '...'} usually won't work—Storybook's logic prevents default navigation and blocks your handler from running as expected, unless the link is external or uses target="_blank" see source.

If you need to break out of the iframe, try using a button (not an anchor) with an onClick that sets window.top.location. If that still doesn't work, it's due to Storybook's internal interception and there isn't a supported workaround right now. If this is a blocker, you may want to follow or request a feature for more flexible navigation in future releases.

To reply, just mention @dosu.

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