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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
Great! this worked for me too! After I tweaked this a bit: I had to create the keys since they did not already exist.
Once I created keys, I modified the (default) value to:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" https://mail.google.com/mail?extsrc=mailto&url=%1
If you are running 32bit Windows 7, this should work for you:
C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" https://mail.google.com/mail?extsrc=mailto&url=%1
On the other hand, if your installation of Google Chrome was not for ALL users, then this should be the (Default) value, regardless of 32bit or 64bit Windows 7:
"C:\Users%username%\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" https://mail.google.com/mail?extsrc=mailto&url=%1
Note that on the last value above that the "*" was replaced with "%". This will allow the change to be effective regardless of who is logged in and the change is system-wide.
I am working with Windows 7 Professional 64bit and the MSI installation of Google Chrome (installed for ALL users).
Top notch answer. Works... unsure why, but I needed to create the registry tree for "mailto" onwards, but it works, so I am a happy bunny!
"The Gmail notifier is simply an addon that regularly checks your Gmail account for new email. Its does not make Gmail your email client"
If you download this gmail notifier....You will be asked if you wish to make gmail you client just click "yes"
