Use GMail For Default Email Program in XP, Vista, or OS X

Contributor Icon Contributed by MickeyMouse Date Icon March 15, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Internet

Web-based email clients can be a little painful because they are not closely integrated into the OS. Google has made it easy to integrate gmail into windows and apple systems.


XP/Vista:

First, install the Windows gmail notifier

The later installations of the notifier actually allow the user to setup gmail as the default email client from the installation. Just click the Use for outgoing email box.

gmail_setup

If you already have gmail notifier installed, you can right click on the notifier icon in the system tray, select Options, and check Use Gmail for internet mailto: links.

Registry hacks to avoid using the gmail notifier are available as well.

OS X:

For OSX, the user should also install the gmail notifier.

1. Click the Mail icon on the Menu bar
2. Go to Preferences
3. Select Settings
4. Select Gmail in the Default Email Program dropbox

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  • Derek
    The notifier will not work as the default mail program in Vista
  • AurariaMJ
    Thanks for this. It made life a lot easier for me. I hated that every time I clicked an email link, my machine would open up Apple Mail, and I would then have to copy and paste the email address into Gmail.
  • Poland Joe
    Sorry, this does not make it happen. Still cant make GMAIL the default...Outlook seems locked in. VISTA
  • GErry
    This doesn't work. Itopens my gmail but I still have to copy and paste the email address over to my gmail email window.
  • tim
    regedit:

    HKCR/mailto/shell/open/command

    change value to:

    "%ProgramFiles%\Internet Explorer\iexplore.exe" javascript:window.open('https://mail.google.com/mail/?view=cm&source=mailto&fs=1&%1')

    almost!. except I cant figure out how to get the to and subject values set inside the gmail compose page...grrrr
  • THANK YOU! :D ...yet someone said it wasn't possible to set gmail as default in vista...
  • JH
    In Windows 7 you can go to Default programs in the start menu and configure Google Pack as the default program for email. Really easy. Notifier is not required.
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