How to Make Mailto Links Compose New Gmail Messages
Have you ever found yourself wishing you could easily send a new message in Gmail with a single click from a web link? The mailto: protocol allows you to do just that, but it can be a bit tricky if you want to ensure that the message opens directly within Gmail, rather than in your default email client or another program. This article will guide you through the process of configuring your web browser to open Gmail when you click a mailto: link, ensuring a seamless experience.
The Basics of Mailto Links
When you use a mailto: link without a destination, it generally opens your default email client (such as Outlook or another client) with a blank To: field. However, by specifying an email address within the mailto: link, the link can open the email client with that email address already filled in. For example:
HTML: a href@ Us/a
Result: The link will open the default email client with To: field set to @.
Gmail and Mailto Links
However, Gmail is a web-based application. To make it your default email handler for mailto links, you need to set your web browser as a mail handler in Windows. Let’s break down the steps to achieve this:
Steps to Make Gmail Your Default Email Program
The process involves a few necessary steps to configure your browser as a mail handler. Here’s a detailed guide:
1. Use Google Chrome as Your Mail Handler
Open Google Chrome.
Click on the three dots in the upper right corner to access the menu.
Select Settings. In the advanced settings, click Open as > Gmail near the bottom.
This step essentially tells Chrome to open all mailto: links directly within Gmail. It's worth noting that this feature is currently only available in Google Chrome and is a Chrome-specific configuration.
2. Configure Other Browsers as Mail Handlers (Windows)
For browsers other than Chrome, you may need to set them up as a mail handler. Here’s a general approach to do so:
Open the email client you want to use as a mail handler (e.g., Outlook).
Go to the settings or preferences where you can configure the program as an email handler.
Find the option to set a default web browser and add the URL of the Gmail app.
Save your changes.
For example, in Outlook, you can set it as a mail handler by adding the URL to the Gmail app in the email handling settings.
FAQs
Q1: Does Microsoft have a way to configure mailto links to open Gmail in Windows 10?
No, unless there's a specific feature in Windows 10 that hasn't been widely publicized. However, the primary method involves configuring your web browser as a mail handler.
Q2: Can I use Outlook instead of a browser to open Gmail with mailto links?
Yes, you can set Outlook to handle mailto links. Follow the steps in the configuration section to ensure that Outlook can open Gmail when a mailto link is clicked.
Conclusion
By following these steps, you can make mailto links compose new Gmail messages with ease. Whether you're using Google Chrome or another browser, ensuring that Gmail is your default email handler can greatly enhance your productivity and streamline your workflow.