Setting your default email in Windows 11 is pretty straightforward once you know where to look. But naturally, Windows likes to make it a bit tricky. Sometimes, even after picking your favourite app, it doesn’t quite stick right away, or clicking email links still opens some random client. Annoying, but there are ways to fix it.
How to Set Your Default Email in Windows 11
First up, you’ll need to dive into the system settings. Usually, it’s a piece of piss—unless you’ve got a tonne of apps installed, then it can get a little cluttered. The point here is to tell Windows exactly which app to use when you click on email links (mailto: protocol). Sometimes, this doesn’t get set properly the first time round.
Method 1: Using Settings (The usual way)
Head over to Settings by clicking the Start menu or just hitting Windows key + I. From there:
- Go to Apps in the sidebar.
- Click on Default Apps.
- Scroll down or search for your email client (like Outlook, Mail, Thunderbird, etc.) in the search bar.
- Click on the app, then find the Set defaults by app option. Or simply click on the app’s name to expand its default protocol associations.
- Scroll down to MAILTO. Click on it, then choose your preferred email app from the list. If it’s not showing up, it’s probably because the app isn’t registered properly or isn’t compatible with Windows 11.
- Once you’ve selected it, just close the window. All done. Now, clicking email links should open in the app you picked.
It’s a bit weird, but on some setups, the change doesn’t happen straight away. Sometimes, a reboot is the trick. And if you’ve just installed a new email app, make sure it’s fully installed and up-to-date, or Windows might ignore it in this list.
Method 2: Using Control Panel (A bit of an old-school move)
Windows 11 still pulls a few tricks from the past. If the Settings route isn’t doing the trick, give Control Panel a burl:
- Open the Start menu, type
Control Panel, and hit Enter. - Head to Default Programs.
- Click on Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
- Scroll down to MAILTO. Click on it, then pick your email client.
- Click Change program… and choose the right app (or browse if it’s not listed). Confirm and close.
This older method sometimes sorts out issues where Windows stubbornly refuses to switch defaults via the newer settings. Mind you, sometimes Windows still doesn’t register the change immediately, so a restart might be needed here too.
Another trick to try…
If your favourite app isn’t appearing in the default list at all, make sure it’s registered properly. You might need to reinstall or repair the app. For example, with Outlook, you might have to repair your Office install through the Control Panel or Apps & Features. Also, some apps have their own default settings—worth checking those out if they’re available.
Of course, Windows has to make life a bit hard, so sometimes resetting all default apps to Microsoft’s defaults and then re-choosing can do the trick.
Tips for Setting Your Default Email in Windows 11
- Make sure your email app’s up-to-date—older versions might not register correctly in Windows 11’s default settings.
- If the app isn’t showing up, try reinstalling or repairing it. Registry settings can sometimes get a bit dodgy.
- Use the search bar under Default Apps for a quicker fix instead of scrolling through long lists.
- Don’t forget to restart your PC after making changes—that’s often the easiest fix.
- If things still aren’t working, check for Windows updates or consider resetting all default apps and setting them up from scratch.
FAQs
Can I set any email app as the default in Windows 11?
Mostly, yeah. As long as it’s properly registered with Windows, it should work. Some niche email clients might not be recognised or may need a bit of manual setup.
How do I remove a default email app?
In the Default Apps section, just pick another app and set it as the default for MAILTO. Windows doesn’t really delete defaults, but changing the app will take over.
What if clicking email links still doesn’t open my app?
Double-check that the app has permission to handle protocols. Sometimes, reinstalling or repairing the app does the trick—Windows can be a bit flaky sometimes.
Why does Windows keep bouncing back to the old app?
This can happen if updates or reboots aren’t done, or if the app isn’t fully compatible. Clearing cache or resetting default apps can often sort it out.
Summary
- Head to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
- Search for your email program.
- Scroll to MAILTO and pick your favourite.
- Reboot if the changes don’t take straight away.
Hopefully, this’ll save someone a fair bit of hassle. Windows defaults can be a pain, but there’s usually a workaround up your sleeve.