Setting up a Default Email Client

By default your computer will typically open mail to links / email addresses with it's built-in email client. This article describes how to change that to use your preferred client.

This Article Covers:

• Step 1 - Setting your default application

  • Change your default email client - Windows

  • Change your default email client - MacOS

• Step 2 - Configure your web browser to use GMail

  • Google Chrome & Microsoft Edge

  • Firefox

Set Default Email Client - Windows

1. Open your Start Menu and search for Default apps. Then select Default Apps from the list.

   

2. Click on the icon underneath the Email heading. It will usually be set to the Mail app.

   

3. Select your preferred web browser 

4. Now that your web browser is set as the default application, you need to configure it to handle mailto links. See the sections below for specific instructions.

Set Default Email Client - MacOS

1. Open the Mail app from your dock or Launchpad.
   

2. Click on the Mail dropdown menu in the top-left, then choose Settings.

   

3. Click the dropdown menu to the right of Default email reader and choose the Select option.

   

4. You will see a list of applications installed on your Mac. Choose your preferred web browser and click Select. 

   

5. Now that your web browser is set as the default application, you need to configure it to handle mailto links. See the sections below for specific instructions.

Configure Web Browser to Handle Email Links

Google Chrome & Microsoft Edge

1. Log into gmail.com.

2. On the right side of the address bar click on the icon of two overlapping diamonds (See below for alternate instructions if you don't see the diamonds).

   

3. Select the Allow option then click Done.

   

If you don't see the diamond icon in Gmail:

1. Click on in the top-right of the Chrome window, then choose Settings.

   

2. Click on the Privacy and security tab on the left. Then click on the Site settings option.

   

3. Under the Permissions section, click on Additional permissions to expand that section. Then choose the Protocol handlers option.

   

4. Under the Default behavior section make sure Sites can ask to handle protocols is selected.

   1. If you needed to change the default behavior setting: go back to Gmail and reload your inbox. You should now see the double diamond icon.

   2. If you see mail.google.com under the list of protocols: click on to the right of it then click Set as default.

      

Firefox

1. In Firefox, click on the hamburger menu, , in the top-right of the window, then choose Settings.

   

2. In the settings menu, scroll down until you see the Applications section.

   

3. Under Action expand the dropdown menu in mailto row. By default, it will say Use Mail.

4. From the dropdown menu select Use Gmail.