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How Do I Set Gmail as my Default Mail Client?

Scott Richards
  • Updated

Sending emails to donors using Personalized Email Templates is a great way to connect with your supporters. But when you use them for the first time, you may discover that your computer (or your browser) doesn't open the right email application for you.

That's OK!

We're here to help.

You can use this handy-dandy guide to adjust your browser settings to allow you to send emails from Gmail by default. If you'd like to send emails from MS Outlook instead, then check out this how-to guide.

Look for your preferred browser below and then follow the steps to configure your browser to open mail links in Gmail from now on.

Chrome

If you're using Chrome, here's what to do:

  1. In Chrome, navigate to the settings. Click on the three dots in the upper-right corner of the screen, to the right of the menu bar, and then select "Settings." Or, just type chrome://settings/ into the address bar and hit enter.
  2. Select "Handlers" in "Site Settings." Click on Privacy and Security, and then select "Site Settings." Under "Permissions, click on "Additional Permissions" and then click on "Protocol Handlers." Or, just go directly to chrome://settings/handlers in your address bar.
  3. Allow Chrome to ask for default handlers. Just select the button to allow. If this setting is already turned on, go with the default IT fix and turn it off and then on again. That should prompt Chrome to ask when you navigate to site if you'd like it to be your default handler. This can be especially handy if you've actually set the incorrect default.
  4. Go to Gmail in Chrome. If you haven't already, log in to your inbox.
  5. Allow Gmail to open all email links. You should see a message asking you if you'd like to do this. If not, you should see a "double diamond" icon in the right of the address bar. Just click on that, and then select "Allow" and click "Done."

Firefox

If you'r a Firefox user, follow these steps:

  1. In Firefox, navigate to the settings. Click on the three lines in the upper-right corner of the screen, to the right of the menu bar, and then select "Preferences" if you are using a Mac, or "Options" if you are using a PC. Or, just type about:preferences into the address bar and hit enter.
  2. Go to "Applications." In the "General" section, scroll down until you see a heading for "Applications."
  3. Update the "mailto" option. Looks for "Mailto" in the left column of the box for Applications, or type "mailto" into the search bar above it. Then, click on the right, in the "Action" column, and select "Use Gmail." You may also see an option to "Use Chrome" if you also have Chrome installed. This will open a Chrome window and THEN use your default mail client set in Chrome. You may select this if you already have Gmail set as your default email client in Chrome, and you want to send all emails from Chrome.

Unfortunately, for users who prefer Apple's Safari browser or Microsoft Edge, setting a default email client will require changing the settings on your computer. In many cases, you may end up selecting Chrome as your default email application, in order to use the Gmail web interface as your default email client. Click below to view help articles from Apple or Microsoft support on how to do this.

Here's how to update the default mail settings on a Mac.

Here's how to update the default mail settings in Windows 10.

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