Here is something I get asked alot – How do I make GMail my default email program in Microsoft Windows 7? In MS 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:
- Right Click on the link below for your browser below
- Select Save As
- Save to your computer
- if you are using chrome – open the txt file you just saved and replace {username} with the username you log in with
- Find where you saved the file and change the file extension from .txt to .reg
- import the registry file to your computer – (Update: I didn’t mean to sound “geeky” here… to “import” just double click the .reg file, or right click and select import – Windows will do all the “heavy lifting” from there)
If step 4 has you hung up – you need to change your folder options to not hide extensions for known file types.
chrome-gmail <– YOU MUST EDIT {USERNAME} BEFORE YOU IMPORT THIS TO YOUR REGISTRY
IE64-gmail <– this is for the 64bit version of IE however I don’t use it and don’t recommend using it.
Update for Firefox users: According to a comment below, if you’re using Firefox, all you have to do is:
Tools>Options>Applications, then change the mailto action to Use Gmail.
Please leave a comment if that worked for you. Otherwise, here are the registry hacks for Firefox:
If this post has helped you – help me back by watching my 5 min standup set at StandUp Live in Phoenix AZ. Its free, its funny, and I like the attention! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Eu9DokpBjo
hi i recently installed gmail notifier to enable my gmail account rather than Microsoft (windows 7) when i try mail recipient it always logs to Microsoft mail and not gmail, any ideas how to resolve this?
The answer for Firefo worked andwaseasy. thnaks
Tried both options. Neither worked for IE.
the tip for firefox worked! thanks!
I use Firefox and it was a snap as you noted. Tools, Options, then change mailto value to Gmail and save. Love Google, buy have never found anything in Chrome to get me to leave Firefox. This is just another reason why.
Time/Life saver thanks Tea
the links are broken FYI
@smileybri, The Links are fixed
the links on this page don’t point to any files.
am i missing something?
@david, The Links are fixed
The links to the registry “txt” files appear to be broken. Have you posted them elsewhere or still have the source?
Cheers!
@mjlambie, The Links are fixed
Gosh, your links to the Registry files are gone, could you re-post the files – specifically the ones for Chrome and Firefox?
@freecirc, The Links are fixed
This worked 4 me. Win7 Firefox 17.0.1
Update for Firefox users: According to a comment below, if you’re using Firefox, all you have to do is:
Tools>Options>Applications, then change the mailto action to Use Gmail.
Hi,
I get:
“This is somewhat embarrassing, isn’t it?
It seems we can’t find what you’re looking for. Perhaps searching can help.”
when trying to download the FF(32) reg hack. Will you plz publish the text? kthxbye
@your name, The Links are fixed
chrome link broken
the links aren’t working at all. I tried clicking the links and I tried right clicking and save link as and still nothing.
thanks so much for doing this for the world 🙂 i’m getting a “page not found” error when i try to download chrome-gmail.txt. am i doing something wrong?
The chrome-gmail link is not working. Can you get it up and running?
I just used your super easy method of using gmail as a default on firefox – worked like a charm! Many thanks.
jm
Thanks especially for the “Update for Firefox users”.
I did it and everything went smoothly – no problems.
However, when I go to use it, although I am not now automatically taken to Outlook, all I get is a blank tab opening up in Chrome????????? – Instead of, as I would expect a blank gmail compose form.
Thank you guys, where’s the “buy beer” button?
@r109, Thanks! Instead of buying me a beer – tell your friends if they need a website, to at least check us out! 🙂
thank you so much whoever you are. I use firefox. I have been trying for two years to get rid of window mail live email default .
Thank you for this info. Very useful
correct path
C:\Program Files (x86)\Google\Chrome\Application
There is NO FOLDER “Application” with this PATH C:\\Users\\{username}\\AppData\\Local\\Google\\Chrome\\Application\\
Hello… once I imported it into the registry (Windows 7 64-bit – Chrome as the browser) it still kept opening Outlook.
Is there a final step I’m missing?
Thanks for your help!
Be polite, geeks rule your world.