Clicked an email address in Chrome, and a new email started in a desktop email program you’ve never opened before? Wish web-based email (such as Gmail or Outlook.com) could be the default? Find out here how to change the default email program in Google Chrome ⤓ (even to a web-based email service).
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How to Change the Default Email Program in Google Chrome
⚡ Quick Fix
To use a desktop app, change your operating system’s default email program. To use a web-based email service like Gmail, open its website in Chrome, click the protocol handler icon in the address bar and select Allow.
In Chrome for the Desktop (Windows, Mac, Linux)
Time needed: 5 minutes
To make Google Chrome use a different program when you click an email address or email link:
- Quit Google Chrome.
- Change the default email program in your operating system:
How to Set the Default Email Program on Linux
How to Set the Default Email Program on Mac
How to Set the Default Email Program on Windows - Launch Google Chrome.
Web-based email default: If you had set up a web-based email service as the default in Google Chrome (see below), it will be replaced with the operating system’s default program.
Back to web: You can always switch back to the web-based service by making Google Chrome your default email program across the operating system.
Making Chrome itself the default: How to Make Google Chrome the Default Browser
In Chrome for iOS and Android
To change the default email program in Chrome mobile:
- Open a tab in Chrome for iOS or Android.
- Tap the menu button (
). - Select Settings from the menu in Chrome.
- Now choose Content Settings.
- Pick Default apps from the Content Settings menu.
- Select the preferred email program under MAIL.
Example: Pick Gmail to open the Gmail app by default for email in Chrome.
Option: Enable Ask me which app to use every time to get a sheet with options every time you tap an email address.
- Tap ⟨Back.
- Now tap Done.
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How to Use a Web-Based Email Service as Default with Google Chrome
To set a web-based email service in Google Chrome (such as Gmail, Outlook on the Web or iCloud Mail) as the default email program using Google Chrome options:
- Click the three dots menu icon (⠸) in Google Chrome.
- Select Settings from the menu that has appeared.
- Go to Privacy and security.
- Select Site settings.
- Expand Additional permissions (under Permissions).
- Now choose Protocol handlers.
Direct link: You can also go to directly to open Protocol handlers settings. - Choose Sites can ask to handle protocols.
No handlers: If this setting is disabled, it will read Do not allow any site to handle protocols. - Click the three dots menu icon (⠸) next to the desired service under email.
Missing email service: If the service you want to use does not yet appear under the list, see below for adding it. - Select Set as default from the menu that has appeared.
Add a Web-Based Email Service to Google Chrome for Handing Email Links
If the email service you want to use by default is not yet in the list, add it as a mail handler:
- Open the Protocol handlers settings in Google Chrome. (See above.)
- If the service you want to use is listed under Blocked, click the × next to it.
- Now open the email service you wish to use in Google Chrome.
Example: To add Gmail, open https://mail.google.com, for instance. - Click the service handler icon (
) in the address bar.
No service handler icon: You can add web-based email services to Google Chrome even if the service handler icon does not show; see below. - Select Allow under Allow ___ to open all email links?.
- Click Done.
This will automatically make Google Chrome the default email program and the selected email service open with a new message when you click an email address.
How to Change the Default Email Program in Google Chrome: FAQ
I do not see the service handler icon for my favorite email service.
Can I manually add a web-based email service to Google Chrome for use as the default for email links?
Yes.
To add a web-based email service to handle clicks on email addresses with a new message (and the recipient already filled in) when the service handler icon is not available:
- Open the email service you wish to use by default in Google Chrome.
- Click the Google Chrome three dots menu icon (⠸).
- Select More Tools | Developer Tools from the menu that has appeared.
Keyboard shortcut: You can also press Ctrl Alt I (Windows), Ctrl Shift I (Linux) or Command Option I (Mac). - Go to the Console tab.
- In the Console window’s command line (following the > prompt), type the command made up of the following parts:
navigator.registerProtocolHandler(
"mailto",
"[URI]",
Important: Replace [URI] with the link to compose a new message in the email service. In the link, %s will be replaced with the email address on which you click to start an email, so the addressee is already entered.
Note: Make sure the domain for the URI corresponds to the domain currently open in Google Chrome, e.g., if you are on https://www.icloud.com, the URI needs to start with https://www.icloud.com.
Example: The address for iCloud Mail to start a new email is "https://www.icloud.com/message/current/en-us/#compose?to=" followed by the email address, so the whole URI for use in the command is "https://www.icloud.com/message/current/en-us/#compose?to=%s".
"[Name]")
Tip: Replace [Name] with the email service’s name.
Example: Use "iCloud Mail" for iCloud Mail.
Full Example: The full command for setting up Gmail as an email service in Google Chrome is:navigator.registerProtocolHandler("mailto", "https://www.icloud.com/message/current/en-us/#compose?to=%s", "iCloud Mail")
- Press Enter.
- Under __ wants to Open email links instead of ___ (which appears below the address bar in Google Chrome), select Allow.
(Tested with Google Chrome 119–154; first published October 2018, last updated August 2026)