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How to make Gmail the default email program when you click email links in Chrome Browser

  • Updated

Want email links to open directly in Gmail? This guide walks you through setting Gmail as your default email client on both macOS and Windows 11, and configuring Chrome so that mailto links open in Gmail automatically.

ℹ️ Note: Setting Gmail as your default email client requires two parts: (1) updating your operating system's default email app setting, and (2) configuring Chrome to handle mailto links via Gmail. Both steps are required for email links to open correctly in Gmail.

 

📌 Quick-Jump Topics

 

Set Gmail as Default Email (macOS)

How do I set Gmail as my default email reader on a Mac?

macOS controls the default email reader through the Apple Mail app. Follow these steps to point it to Google Chrome (which will then open Gmail):

  1. Open the Mail app on your Mac (found in your Applications folder or via Spotlight search).
  2. In the top menu bar, click Mail, then select Settings (on older macOS versions this may appear as Preferences).
  3. Make sure you are on the General tab.
  4. Click the Default email reader dropdown menu.
  5. Select Google Chrome from the list of installed applications.
ℹ️ Note: If Google Chrome does not appear in the dropdown, make sure Chrome is installed on your Mac. After selecting Chrome, close Mail Settings — the change saves automatically.

Once this is done, proceed to the Chrome configuration steps below to complete the setup.

 

Set Gmail as Default Email (Windows 11)

How do I set Gmail as my default email app on Windows 11?

Windows 11 does not list Gmail as a standalone app in Default Apps — instead, you set the MAILTO protocol to open in Google Chrome, which then handles email links via Gmail. Follow these steps:

  1. Open Settings by pressing Windows + I on your keyboard, or click the Start button and select the gear icon.
  2. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then select Default apps.
  3. In the search bar under "Set a default for a file type or link type", type MAILTO and press Enter.
  4. Click the MAILTO result that appears.
  5. Select Google Chrome from the list of available apps and click OK.
ℹ️ Note: Windows 11 discontinued the built-in Mail and Calendar apps as of December 31, 2024. If you were previously using the Mail app as your default, you will need to update this setting to Google Chrome and complete the Chrome configuration steps below.

Once this is done, proceed to the Chrome configuration steps below to complete the setup.

 

Configure Chrome to Open Mailto Links in Gmail

How do I make Gmail the default handler for email links in Chrome?

Regardless of whether you are on Mac or Windows, you must also complete the following steps in Chrome to ensure mailto links open in Gmail:

Step 1: Enable protocol handlers in Chrome:

  1. Open Google Chrome and type chrome://settings/handlers in the address bar, then press Enter.
  2. Make sure the toggle for "Sites can ask to become default handlers for protocols" is turned on.
  3. Scroll down to the Blocked section and confirm that mail.google.com does not appear there. If it does, remove it.

Step 2: Set Gmail as the handler:

  1. In the Chrome address bar, navigate to mail.google.com and sign in to your Gmail account.
  2. Look for the protocol handler icon (two overlapping diamonds) on the right side of the address bar. This icon only appears when you are on the Gmail tab and have protocol handlers enabled.
  3. Click the icon and select Allow when prompted.
  4. Click Done.
⚠️ Don't see the handler icon? If the double-diamond icon doesn't appear in the address bar, go back to chrome://settings/handlers and confirm the protocol handler toggle is enabled. Then refresh your Gmail tab and check again.

To confirm everything is working, click any email address link on a webpage — it should now open a Gmail compose window in Chrome.

For additional reference, see Google's official documentation.

 

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