Browser email links: create messages with one click using Google Mail as your "default mail handler"

When clicking on a "mailto:" link within a website or a system like Workday or Canvas, a message may attempt to pop-up your laptop's default mail application, such as Outlook or Mail. Try this clickable email address to run a quick test of your current setup. Perhaps surprisingly, if you see such a pop-up instead of a new Gmail draft, this is due to a special setting in your browser and device instead of within that page or system. Follow the below steps for your device and browser to establish Google Mail as default. 

Jump to:

• Chrome for macOS
• Chrome for Windows
• Firefox for macOS
• Firefox for Windows

Chrome for macOS

1. Log in to your WFU email by visiting google.wfu.edu in Chrome. 
2. Visit mail.google.com.
3. Look for an icon of two overlapping diamonds in the address bar of your WFU Gmail window, and select it.
   
4. Select Allow and Done.
   
5. Open a Chrome tab and visit chrome://settings/handlers. Ensure "Sites can ask to handle protocols" is selected. 
   • Ensure that mail.google.com is Set as Default.
     
     
6. Test out your newly configured browser by clicking to email [email protected]. If it works, congrats!
7. If this does work, it may be that the Apple Mail app is currently set as the default email reader. Follow these steps to change that setting:
   1. On your Mac, open the Mail app.
   2. Go to the "Mail tab" on the upper left corner (next to the Apple icon)
   3. Select Settings.
   4. Under the "General" tab of the preferences, go the the "Default email reader" option and toggle the option to Google Chrome. If this is not an option, choose "Select..." and find Google Chrome in your Applications folder.
      
   5. Run another test of your newly configured browser by clicking to email [email protected].

Chrome for Windows

1. Log in to your WFU email by visiting google.wfu.edu in Chrome. 
2. Open a Chrome tab and visit chrome://settings/handlers. Ensure "Sites can ask to handle protocols" is selected. 
   • Ensure that mail.google.com is Set as Default.
     
     
3. Look for an icon of two overlapping diamonds in the address bar of your WFU Gmail window, and select it.
   
4. Select Allow and Done.
   
5. Test out your newly configured browser by clicking to email [email protected]. If it works, congrats! If not, you may need to adjust some settings on your computer. Keep going...
6. Go to Windows Start and search for and select "Default Apps"
7. Search apps for "Mail" and open "Mail"
   
8. In the "MAILTO" setting, select to expand.
9. If you receive a message about staying with Microsoft's recommendations, you may continue.
10. Select Google Chrome and then OK.
    
11. Run another test of your newly configured browser by clicking to email [email protected]. If it works, congrats! If not, give The Bridge a call at 336.758.HELP (4357) or Live Chat us, and we'll help.

Firefox for macOS

1. Click the 3 bar “hamburger” menu in the upper right corner

2. Select “Settings”

3. You can type “mailto” in the search bar OR Scroll down in the “General” menu until you get to “Applications”

4. Click the dropdown menu next to “mailto” (You may have to click “mailto” first to show the arrow for the dropdown menu)

5. Select “Use Gmail” 

6. Test out your newly configured browser by clicking to email [email protected].

Firefox for Windows

1. Click the 3 bar “hamburger” menu in the upper right corner

2. Select “Settings”

3. You can type “mailto” in the search bar OR Scroll down in the “General” menu until you get to “Applications”

4. Click the dropdown menu next to “mailto” (You may have to click “mailto” first to show the arrow for the dropdown menu)

5. Select “Use Gmail” 

6. Test out your newly configured browser by clicking to email [email protected].

7. If this does work, it may be that the Apple Mail app is currently set as the default email reader. Follow these steps to change that setting:
   1. On your Mac, open the Mail app.
   2. Go to the "Mail tab" on the upper left corner (next to the Apple icon)
   3. Select Settings.
   4. Under the "General" tab of the preferences, go the the "Default email reader" option and toggle the option to Firefox. If this is not an option, choose "Select..." and find Firefox in your Applications folder.
      
   5. Run another test of your newly configured browser by clicking to email [email protected].