How Do I Change My Default Email Application?

When you click an email link from inside Contractor Accelerator or any other system with hyperlinked emails (mailto:info@company.com), your device automatically opens a default email application. You can change this default to use Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, or another email app by updating your system and browser settings.

The exact steps depend on your operating system and browser.

How Default Email Apps Work (Quick Overview)

Email links are handled by:

• Your operating system (Windows or macOS), and
• Your web browser (Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Safari)

In most cases, both must be configured correctly for the change to take effect.

Windows: Change Your Default Email App

1. Open Windows Settings
2. Go to Apps → Default Apps
3. Find Email
4. Select the email app or browser you want to use (Outlook, Mail, Chrome, Edge, etc.)

This controls which application opens when you click an email link anywhere on your computer.

macOS (Mac): Change Your Default Email App

macOS manages this setting through Apple Mail.

1. Open Apple Mail
2. Click Mail → Settings (or Preferences) in the menu bar
3. Under Default email reader, select your preferred email app

If you use a web-based email service (like Gmail or Outlook Web), choose the browser you use for email.

Browser-Based Email (Gmail, Outlook Web, Yahoo, etc.)

If you use a web email service, your browser must be set to handle email links.

Google Chrome

1. Open your web email (Gmail, Outlook Web, Yahoo, etc.)
2. Look for the double-diamond icon in the address bar
3. Click it and select Allow this site to open email links

If you don’t see the icon:

1. Go to Chrome Settings → Privacy & Security → Site Settings → Handlers
2. Turn Sites can ask to handle protocols ON
3. Choose your preferred email service under Email

Microsoft Edge

1. Open your web email service
2. Click the double-diamond icon in the address bar and allow it

Or:

1. Go to Settings → Cookies and Site Permissions → Protocol Handlers
2. Turn protocol handling ON
3. Select your preferred email site

Firefox

1. Open Firefox Settings
2. Go to General → Applications
3. Find mailto
4. Select the email service or app you want to use

Safari (Mac)

Safari does not natively support web-based email services as default mail handlers.

• Use a desktop email app, or
• Install a browser extension, or
• Use Chrome or Firefox for email links

Switching From One Email App to Another

If you’re changing from:

• Outlook → Gmail
• Apple Mail → Outlook
• Any desktop app → web-based email

Make sure you:

1. Update your system default email app
2. Update your browser mail handler
3. Restart your browser after making changes

How to Test Your Setup

Click an email link anywhere on your computer.
The correct email app or web email page should open automatically.

Troubleshooting Tips

• System defaults override browser settings
• Each browser has its own mail handler settings
• Web-based email works best in Chrome or Firefox
• Restarting your browser can finalize changes