How to set Gmail as default email client in Windows 8?

How can I use Gmail (in Chrome) as the default email handler in Windows 8?

I used to use GmailNotifier in Windows 7, but that doesn't seem to work anymore. Clicking on a mailto: link simply opens Chrome with a blank page.

I am not interested in using the Mail app built into Windows 8.

Leftium

Posted 2012-11-04T07:58:55.240

Reputation: 8 163

Answers

Open Gmail in Chrome. Then see this. Click on the eye in the address bar.

enter image description here

pratnala

Posted 2012-11-04T07:58:55.240

Reputation: 1 866

These days it doesn't seem to look like an eye, more like two overlapping diamonds. On OS X anyway. – Steve Bennett – 2014-08-20T07:20:27.783

I don't have have that eye/overlapping-diamongs in my search bar. I did go into Settings and set mailto: handler to gmail. Still no luck. – Clay Nichols – 2014-10-24T20:33:43.497

1I tried that, but it doesn't work, even when clicking a mailto link within Chrome :( – Leftium – 2012-12-28T02:29:36.500

@Leftium Can you see the options of screenshot? Have you selected Use Gmail? And, what's the version of your Chrome? – Apple II – 2013-02-01T20:01:15.240

hmmm.. this seems to work, now. I'm not sure what changed since the last time I tried it~ – Leftium – 2013-03-18T05:12:48.873

Ah that's great! – pratnala – 2013-03-18T10:48:42.723

I do not have the eye icon in chrome - does that come from installing an extension? – Thronk – 2013-11-08T19:56:33.177

Not an extension. It is inbuilt into chrome. Search for handler settings in Chrome settings. You might have to switch it on – pratnala – 2013-11-10T07:15:15.730

Directions should also point that user must click the "eye" icon on the address bar. (took me a good 5 minutes to find out) – Nikos Tsokos – 2014-04-09T09:13:47.913

1@Entrodus Done. Added the additional instruction – pratnala – 2014-04-10T10:11:05.110

Close Chrome
Open C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Local State with Notepad (or, any other text editor).
Locate "javascript": true, in protocol_handler section of the file, replace true with false and save the file.
Launch Chrome, visit Gmail and Sign in.
In address bar of same tab, type/paste this & hit enter: javascript:navigator.registerProtocolHandler("mailto", "https://mail.google.com/mail/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s", "Gmail");
[Optional] Close Chrome & revert back your changes in Local State file.
Open Default Programs.
Click Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
Select MAILTO and then click Change program... button.
Choose Google Chrome from the list.

Done!

Apple II

Posted 2012-11-04T07:58:55.240

Reputation: 3 669

This is fantastic! Can it be done with Firefox? – pilau – 2014-02-11T19:58:14.023

Thanks for taking the time to reply, but it seems that it cannot be done in Firefox (otherwise I'm missing something).

– pilau – 2014-02-13T11:13:59.980

Follow the steps after installation of Gmail Client enter image description here

Change your Default Client to Gmail..

Hope this Helps...

Sant14

Posted 2012-11-04T07:58:55.240

Reputation: 987

4There is no Gmail option! – Leftium – 2012-11-04T08:32:26.007

@Leftium see my answer – pratnala – 2012-12-27T10:41:21.777

See the below link. It expands upon Sant14's answer by first having you create the necessary entry that would then show up in your 'Default Programs' > 'Programs' list.

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/change-windows-8-default-email-client/

Some Guy

Posted 2012-11-04T07:58:55.240

Reputation: 1

I found an easier solution. The link below installs an applet which gives you the option as a check box, and you don't have to use Chrome. I'm using Firefox because I have some sort of virus on Chrome that hijacks clicks and sends me to advertisements.

http://toolbar.google.com/gmail-helper/notifier_windows.html

Carson

Posted 2012-11-04T07:58:55.240

Reputation: 9

This is no longer supported by google. – Lenne – 2016-07-17T21:00:51.570