This browser is no longer supported.
Upgrade to Microsoft Edge to take advantage of the latest features, security updates, and technical support.
![](data:image/svg+xml, %3Csvg xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg' height='64' class='font-weight-bold' style='font: 600 30.11764705882353px "SegoeUI", Arial' width='64'%3E%3Ccircle fill='hsl(128, 8%, 22%)' cx='32' cy='32' r='32' /%3E%3Ctext x='50%25' y='55%25' dominant-baseline='middle' text-anchor='middle' fill='%23FFF' %3EA%3C/text%3E%3C/svg%3E)
I now have Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, and want Gmail as my Default email. I have found no clearly spelled-out information or directions on how to do this successfully. Yes- I know about setting your default programs, and Gmail is not listed as an option.
So then I start the research, and I've gotten as far as reading that i have to "Regisiter with Windows Live Mail" in order to set Gmail as my default email? I started to register with Live Mail, and they want my name and email address and whether I want updates, the YAHOO tool bar, etc. I don't want to register in any other placces than I need, as I know email notes for Windows Live Mail will come. AND does this mean that my gmail goes to windows live mail and then forwarded onto to me??? So is this the only way to get Gmail as default email? Anyone have clear instructions on how to do this? Thank you.
original title: Having Gmail as Default email program.. I am fairly intelligent, BUT THIS IS DRIVING ME CRAZY
Locked Question. This question was migrated from the Microsoft Support Community. You can vote on whether it's helpful, but you can't add comments or replies or follow the question.
This worked for me (Windows Live Mail not needed):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mailto\shell\open\command\
edit (default) to :
"C:\Users\*username*\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" https://mail.google.com/mail?extsrc=mailto&url=%1
On Sun, 29-Nov-09 19:00:26 GMT, barb1948 wrote:
>
>
> I now have Windows 7 Home Premium Edition, and want Gmail as my Default email.
The term "default e-mail" refers to your default e-mail *program*.
Gmail is not a program, and you can not do this.
> I have found no clearly spelled-out information or directions on
> how to do this successfully. Yes- I know about setting your
> default programs, and Gmail is not listed as an option.
Right! It's not an option because gmail is not a program.
who use gmail use it on their web site, you can
access your gmail using almost any e-mail program you like. Select
your e-mail program and install it. Then go to the gmail web site, and
get the instructions there for using that program for gmail instead of
their web site.
Once you have done that, you can then make that program, the one you
will use to access your gmail, the default e-mail program
> So then I start the research, and I've gotten as far as
> reading that i have to "Regisiter with Windows Live Mail"
> in order to set Gmail as my default email?
Not at all correct. As I said above, you can use almost *any* e-mail
program you want. Windows Live Mail is a choice, but not the only
choice.
> I started to register with Live Mail, and they want my name
> and email address and whether I want updates, the YAHOO tool
> bar, etc. I don't want to register in any other placces than
> I need, as I know email notes for Windows Live Mail will
l goes to windows live
> mail and then forwarded onto to me???
Not exactly. It will go to Windows Live Mail only if you set up
Windows Live Mail for it, following the instructions on the gmail web
site. And it's not really "forwarded."
> So is this the only way to get Gmail as default email?
Once again, you can *not* get an e-mail *service* such as gmail as
your default. Your default has to be a *program*.
> Anyone have clear instructions on how to do this? Thank you.
See above.
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP (Windows Desktop Experience) since 2003
Ken Blake
Have you tried this solution?:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/settings/settings-10.html
Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
"less_ismore" wrote in message news:Email removed for privacy...
I've tried this and it did not work. Mailto links continue to open Outlook which I only use for work related email. I've gone back to regrdit to make sure everything is correct and it is. I use Chrome as my default browser and I prefer using Gmail's web interface for my personal email.
Any suggestions for why this isn't working?
Also, I have looked under Default Programs, and Outlook is set as the default for mailto links, but I am unable to deselect it. I am logged in as administrator.
Gary VanderMolen, MVP (Mail)
while I do have a couple of Yahoo accounts, it's my Gmail account that I want to use as the default for mailto: links. I have tried every suggestion in this thread, and nothing is working for me. I have tried gmail notifier, google talk, editing the registry and even tried going back to Firefox. I tried the GmailDefaultMaker which had no effect. I tried Affixa which sort of worked, but it loads slow and then creates a blank email in my gmail drafts folder, but does not open my gmail account, so it ends up being more complicated than just copying and pasting addresses. I also tried Mailto updater, but now when I click on email links nothing happens. NOTHING. I think I had this working in Firefox at one time, but even that isn't working now.
I have Win 7 Ultimate and use Office 2010 with Outlook for my work email.
Have you tried this solution?:
http://help.yahoo.com/l/us/yahoo/mail/yahoomail/settings/settings-10.html
Gary VanderMolen, Microsoft MVP (Mail)
"less_ismore" wrote in message news:*** Email address is removed for privacy ***...
I've tried this and it did not work. Mailto links continue to open Outlook which I only use for work related email. I've gone back to regrdit to make sure everything is correct and it is. I use Chrome as my default browser and I prefer using Gmail's web interface for my personal email.
Any suggestions for why this isn't working?
Also, I have looked under Default Programs, and Outlook is set as the default for mailto links, but I am unable to deselect it. I am logged in as administrator.
Gary VanderMolen, MVP (Mail)
I've tried this and it did not work. Mailto links continue to open Outlook which I only use for work related email. I've gone back to regrdit to make sure everything is correct and it is. I use Chrome as my default browser and I prefer using Gmail's web interface for my personal email.
Any suggestions for why this isn't working?
Also, I have looked under Default Programs, and Outlook is set as the default for mailto links, but I am unable to deselect it. I am logged in as administrator.
