Make Gmail your default email client

When you click email links on webpages, you can automatically open them in Gmail instead of your computer's default email client.

 Help me change settings in...

Google Chrome

1. In Google Chrome, click the 3 dots to Customize and control Google Chrome

   

   Then click Settings.
   

2. On the left, click Privacy and security, then click Site Settings.
   

   

   
   

3. Click Additional permissions.
   

   

   
   

4. Click Protocol Handlers
   

   

   
   

5. Make sure Sites can ask to handle protocols is toggled on.
   

   

   
   If mail.google.com appears in the list, ensure that it is not blocked on the handlers sections of permissions!

6. Open Gmail  in Chrome.

7. In the address bar, click the double-diamond Service Handler icon 

   

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8. When prompted to Allow mail.google.com to open all email links?, select Allow, then click Done.
   

   

9. The handlers page should now have the entry for mail.google.com
   

   

   
   

More help is available at Google Workspace Learning Center - Make Gmail your default email program .

Mozilla Firefox

1. Open the Firefox menu by clicking the 3 Bar (Hamburger Stack) icon near the top right of the browser, then click Preferences.

2. In the Find in preferences search box, type "mail" – the Applications preference will appear.
   

   

3. Beside "mailto," click the Action column and select Use Gmail.
   

   

4. Close Firefox preferences.

Microsoft Edge

1. Click the three dots "..." icon near the upper right corner of Microsoft Edge, then click Settings.

2. On the left, click Site Permissions, then click Handlers.
   

   

3. Make sure Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols is toggled on.

4. Open Gmail  in Microsoft Edge.

5. In the address bar, click the double-diamond Service Handler icon 

   

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6. When prompted to Allow mail.google.com to open all email links?, select Allow, then click Done.
   

   

Safari

Unfortunately, recent versions of Safari have removed the ability to set a default mail program. A third-party, paid utility is available in the Mac App Store to restore this functionality, but UNC Asheville ITS does not endorse, recommend, or support this utility.

If you must use Safari, as a workaround when you encounter an email link:

1. Right-click (or hold Control, then click) the email link.

2. Click Copy Email Address(es).
   

   

3. Open Gmail  in Safari.

4. Click + Compose.

5. Click the To: field, then press Command+V on your keyboard to paste the email address(es) you copied. You can also right-click (or hold Control, then click), then click Paste.