How to Make Gmail your Default Email Program in Windows 7

Here is something I get asked alot – How do I make GMail my default email program in Windows 7?  In Windows 7, you have the option to change your Default Programs to which ever email program you have installed – but GMail isn’t installed on your computer and doesn’t show up in Default Programs.

You could installed GMail Notifier and set it to open gmail for you when an email link is clicked – but there is another way if you are willing to edit the registry.  I know this can sound a bit technical, but its not difficult to do.  If it does scary you off – then go with the GMail notifier option – otherwise follow these steps:

1. Right Click on the link below for your browser below
2. Select Save As
3. Save to your computer
4. Find where you saved the file and change the file extension from .txt to .reg
5. import the registry file to your computer

If step 4 has you hung up – you need to change your folder options to not hide extensions for known file types.

chrome-gmail

firefox-gmail

firefox-gmail-32bit

IE-gmail