How to Make Gmail Your Default Email Program

If you read and write all of your emails in Gmail, consider setting Gmail as your default email service. You can set up any Windows 10, Windows 8, or Windows 7 device to use Gmail as the default email program. Learn how to do so using Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Microsoft Edge as your default web browser.

How to Set Gmail as the Default Email Service in Google Chrome

When you set up Gmail as your default email program in Chrome, email links on web pages open automatically in Gmail when selected.

1. Open a Chrome browser window.

2. Select the More button, which is three dots in the upper-right corner of the Chrome window, and select Settings.

3. Select the arrow to the right of Site Settings in the Privacy and Security section.

4. Scroll down and select Additional permissions > Handlers.

5. Toggle Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols (recommended) to On.

6. Open Gmail in your Chrome Browser. A pop-up window opens requesting to allow Gmail to open email links. Select Allow.

How to Set Gmail as the Default Email Service in Firefox

Although Firefox typically uses the Windows default email program to open email links, changing the settings enables Gmail to become the default.

1. Open a Firefox browser window.

2. Select the Open Menu button in the upper-right corner of the Firefox window.

3. Choose Options.

4. In the General tab, scroll to the Applications section.

5. Enter mailto in the Content Type search box and select it from the results list.

6. Select the drop-down arrow to the right of Use Mail and choose Use Gmail.

7. Close the about:preferences page. The changes are saved automatically and Gmail is now the default email program.

How to Set Gmail as the Default Email Service with Microsoft Edge as the Default Browser

Microsoft Edge uses the Windows email default setting. While there is no direct way to choose Gmail as the default email client in Windows or in Microsoft Edge, one workaround is to set up Gmail as the default email program in Google Chrome and then select Chrome as the default for all emails.

1. In Windows 10, type default into the Windows search box and choose Default App Settings in the list of results. In Windows 8 or Windows 7, select Start, select Control Panel, choose Programs, and select Default Programs.

2. Select Email under Choose Default Apps in Windows 10. In Windows 8 or Windows 7, select Associate a file type or protocol with a program and then choose MAILTO under Protocols.

3. Select Google Chrome as the email client and close the window. When you click an email link in MS Edge, a new Google Chrome browser window opens with Gmail.