How to make Gmail your default email client in Chrome, Firefox and Safari

2024 Author: Malcolm Clapton | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 03:44

All modern operating systems have a built-in default mail client. However, many users prefer to use the web interface of the mail service right in their browser. In this article, we will explain how to optimize the process using the example of the Gmail service.

If you usually use Gmail directly in your browser, then you probably found yourself in a situation where, when you click on some mail address, a window of your system mail client suddenly appeared in front of you. You have to close this window, copy the email from the page, then go to the Gmail tab in the browser and paste the copied address into the required field.

This problem occurs because all links of the mailto: type are associated with your default mail client, which you do not use. The situation can be corrected in just a few minutes, regardless of whether you are using Windows or Mac.

Safari

Unfortunately, in the Safari browser, the developers did not provide for the ability to change the mailto: binding by built-in means. However, a small extension that can be downloaded will come to our aid. After downloading the file, double-click on it and agree to the offer to install the new extension.

Immediately after installing the extension, you will see a page with its settings, where you should select the required mail service. In this case, it's Gmail. After restarting the browser, this service will open for you after clicking on any email address.

Chrome

In the Google Chrome browser, programmers tried to make our life easier and brought the option to change the handler directly to the address bar. As soon as you go to your mailbox page, a new icon in the form of two gray rhombuses will appear in the address bar of the browser. Click on it and select the "Allow" item in the drop-down menu. This action will tell the browser to open another tab when clicking on the email address to create a new email.

Firefox

In this program, the option we need is hidden on the settings page. Select "Settings" from the main menu, and then go to the "Applications" section. Here, in the "Content Type" list, look for the line mailto:. Open the drop-down list opposite and select the "Use Gmail" value in it.

If you prefer to use Gmail in your browser, then you should definitely follow the steps described above to stop being annoyed about the default mail program window suddenly attacking you. Moreover, this is not at all difficult to do.