How to Set Gmail as Your Default Email Client (mailto: links)

[adarshmadrecha]

I want to ensure that when I click on client's email, it should open Gmail's Compose box.

[adarshmadrecha]

Clicking a mailto: link (like an email address on a website) can be frustrating if it tries to open an app you don't use, like Windows Mail or Outlook.

Setting Gmail in Google Chrome as your default handler on Windows takes just a few steps. Follow this guide to get it configured perfectly.

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Step 1: Allow Gmail to Handle Email Links in Chrome

First, you need to give Gmail permission within the Chrome browser to intercept email links.

1. Open Google Chrome and log into your Gmail account.
2. Look at the right side of the address bar (near the bookmark star icon). You should see a Protocol Handler icon (it looks like two overlapping diamonds: ⧉).
3. Click the Protocol Handler icon.
4. A pop-up will ask: "Allow mail.google.com to open all email links?"
5. Select Allow, then click Done.

Can't see the diamond icon? > If the icon isn't there, you might have blocked it in the past. To fix this:

1. In Chrome, click the three vertical dots (top right) > Settings.
2. Go to Privacy and security > Site settings.
3. Scroll down and click Additional permissions > Handlers.
4. Ensure "Sites can ask to handle protocols" is selected, and make sure Gmail isn't listed under "Not allowed to handle protocols."

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Step 2: Set Chrome as the Windows Default Email App

Now that Chrome knows what to do with email links, you need to tell Windows to send those links to Chrome instead of a desktop email app.

For Windows 11:

1. Press the Windows Key + I to open Settings.
2. Click on Apps in the left sidebar, then select Default apps.
3. In the search bar under "Set defaults for applications," type Chrome and click on it when it appears.
4. Scroll down the list of protocols until you find MAILTO.
5. Click on the current default app listed next to MAILTO.
6. Select Google Chrome from the pop-up list and click Set default.

For Windows 10:

1. Press the Windows Key + I to open Settings.
2. Click on Apps, then select Default apps from the left menu.
3. Look for the Email section on the right.
4. Click on the current app (e.g., Mail or Outlook) and select Google Chrome from the list.

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Step 3: Test Your New Setup

To make sure everything is working perfectly, let's test it:

1. Open any webpage with an email link, or simply copy and paste this into your Chrome address bar and press Enter: mailto:test@example.com
2. A new Chrome tab should automatically open up a fresh Gmail compose window with test@example.com already filled into the "To" field.

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Troubleshooting Tips

• It opens a blank Chrome window instead of Gmail: Make sure you are actively logged into your Gmail account in that specific Chrome profile.
• The Windows Mail app still opens: Repeat Step 2. Windows updates occasionally reset default protocol handlers, so you may just need to re-select Chrome as the MAILTO handler.

[adarshmadrecha]

How to Set Gmail as Your Default Email Client (mailto: links) on macOS

Setting up Gmail in Google Chrome to handle email links on a Mac requires configuring both Chrome's internal settings and macOS's system-level default application handler.

Follow these steps to get it running.

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Step 1: Allow Gmail to Handle Email Links in Chrome

First, you need to grant Gmail permission within Chrome to intercept email links.

1. Open Google Chrome on your Mac and log into your Gmail account.
2. Look at the right side of the address bar (next to the bookmark star icon). Look for the Protocol Handler icon (it looks like two overlapping diamonds: ⧉).
3. Click the Protocol Handler icon.
4. Select Allow when asked "Allow mail.google.com to open all email links?", then click Done.

Missing the diamond icon? > If you don't see it, Gmail might be blocked from asking. Fix this by going to Chrome Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings > Handlers (under Additional permissions). Make sure "Sites can ask to handle protocols" is enabled and Gmail isn't blocked.

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Step 2: Set Chrome as the macOS Default Email Handler

Unlike Windows, macOS manages its default email client through its native Mail app settings, even if you plan on using Chrome/Gmail.

1. Open the native Mail app on your Mac (the default Apple mail app with the blue stamp icon).
2. In the top menu bar, click Mail > Settings... (or Preferences... on older macOS versions).
3. Ensure you are on the General tab.
4. Look for the Default email reader dropdown menu.
5. Click the dropdown and select Google Chrome from the list.
6. You can now close the Apple Mail app; you won't need to open it again for this to work.

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Step 3: Test Your Setup

To verify that the configuration was successful:

1. Click any email link on a website, or paste mailto:test@example.com directly into your Chrome address bar and hit Enter.
2. Chrome should immediately open a new tab containing a pre-addressed Gmail compose window.

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Troubleshooting Tips

• Chrome isn't listed in the "Default email reader" dropdown: Make sure Google Chrome is set as your default web browser first. You can check this by going to your Mac's System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Default web browser and ensuring Chrome is selected. Then, retry Step 2.
• Clicking links opens a blank Chrome tab: This usually means you aren't signed into Gmail on that specific Chrome profile. Ensure you are logged in to the correct account.