How do I disable or turn off links opening within the Gmail app?

Solved. I saw this question incorrectly answered in another post from 2017 - the thread was closed and I was prompted to ask the question again so I could answer it. Here goes…

Currently this is the only known method, which, by bypassing Gmail’s in-app data collection/metrics/surveillance, comes at the cost of one extra click when selecting a link. Although Gmail will still know what link you clicked to exit the app, what you do from there uses the settings for your iOS browser vs. being proxied in Gmail.

Fear: Opening links within any app, to include bank, social media, etc., that a user inputs login information into and views potentially personal/sensitive information, is now shared with the “middle man” app.

So, “How [did] I disable or turn off links opening within the Gmail app?”

1. At top-left, click the menu icon (three-line a.k.a. “hamburger” button).
2. Scroll down and select the gear/settings button.
3. Select the “Default apps” button.
4. Select “Ask me which app to use every time” so that the slide button is set to the “on” position.
5. At top-left of Default apps menu screen, click the “X” icon, then the X icon on the Settings menu screen to return to view your email.
6. Choose a link that previously opened within Gmail.

Result: Instead of automatically opening links within the Gmail app, you can now either 1) choose the browser you want to open within the Gmail app or 2) request the web address to open in your “Default browser app” selected in your iOS settings.

By selecting the last option, it forces the link to be opened in the default iOS browser app that you have set up in your iOS settings vs. within Gmail.