What "default email" means and why you'd want to change it

Your default email program is the one that opens automatically when you click an email link on a website, or when another program needs to send something. Right now, you probably have one set — it might be Outlook, Apple Mail, Yahoo Mail, or something else entirely. Changing it to Gmail means those links will open in Gmail instead.

You might want to do this if you've switched to Gmail as your main email account, or if you're tired of a different program launching every time you click "Contact Us" on a website. The process is different depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or a phone, and it takes about two minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, you change your default email in Settings under Apps, then Default Apps, then Email.
  • On Mac, you set the default in Gmail itself by going to Settings, then scroll to "Default email client" and click Make Default.
  • On iPhone or iPad, you cannot set Gmail as the system default — Apple limits this to Apple Mail — but you can set it as your default in individual apps.
  • On Android, you can set Gmail as default through Settings, then Apps, then Default Apps, then Email App.
  • The change takes effect immediately and does not affect your existing emails or accounts.

How to set Gmail as default on Windows

Open the Windows Settings app by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then press Enter. Once Settings opens, look for "Apps" in the left sidebar and click it.

In the Apps menu, scroll down the left sidebar until you see "Default apps" and click that. You'll see a list of app categories — look for "Email" in that list. Click on whatever program is currently listed there (it might say Outlook, Mail, or another name).

A window will pop up showing you available email programs. Find Gmail in that list and click it. Windows will confirm the change, and Gmail is now your default. The next time you click an email link, Gmail will open instead of your old program.

How to set Gmail as default on Mac

Open Gmail in your web browser and log in to your account. Once you're in Gmail, click the gear icon in the top right corner and select "See all settings."

In the Settings page, scroll down until you see a section labeled "Default email client." Below that text, you'll see a button that says "Make Default." Click it. Your browser may ask for permission — click "Allow" or "Open Gmail" depending on what appears. Gmail is now your default email program.

If the "Make Default" button does not appear, your browser may not support this feature. In that case, you can set Gmail as default through System Preferences instead: click the Apple menu, go to System Preferences, then General, then Default web browser, and select Chrome or Safari (whichever you use for Gmail). This is less direct but accomplishes the same thing.

Setting Gmail as default on Android phones and tablets

Open the Settings app on your Android device. Scroll down and tap "Apps" (on some devices it may say "Applications" or "App Management").

Look for "Default apps" or "Default applications" in the Apps menu and tap it. You should see a list of categories including Email. Tap "Email" to see which program is currently set as default.

A list of email programs will appear. Tap Gmail to set it as your default. If Gmail does not appear in the list, make sure you have the Gmail app installed from the Google Play Store. After you select Gmail, the change takes effect immediately.

Why Gmail won't show as an option on iPhone or iPad

Apple does not allow third-party email programs to be set as the system default on iPhone or iPad. This means that no matter what you do, email links will always open in Apple Mail first. This is a limitation built into iOS and iPadOS, and there is no way around it.

What you can do instead is set Gmail as the default email app within individual programs. For example, if you use Twitter, you can go into Twitter's settings and choose Gmail as your email app for that program only. The steps vary by app, but usually you'll find this option under Settings or Preferences within that app.

If you want to use Gmail on your iPhone or iPad, you can still add your Gmail account to the Mail app itself — this way, when Mail opens, your Gmail messages are already there. Go to Settings, then Mail, then Accounts, then Add Account, and select Google. Sign in with your Gmail address, and your emails will sync to Apple Mail.

What happens after you change your default

Once you've set Gmail as your default, any email link you click on a website will open Gmail in a new tab or window. This includes "Contact Us" links, email addresses written as links, and any other clickable email address on the web.

Your existing emails and accounts are not affected. If you had other email accounts set up in your old program, they stay there — changing the default does not delete anything or move your messages. You can still use your old email program if you want; it just won't open automatically anymore.

If you change your mind later, you can always switch back to a different default email program by following the same steps and selecting a different program instead of Gmail.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default email affect my other email accounts?

No. Your other email accounts remain exactly where they are. If you use Outlook for work email and Gmail for personal email, you can set Gmail as default and still access your Outlook account whenever you open Outlook directly. The default only controls what opens when you click an email link.

What if Gmail doesn't appear in my default apps list?

Make sure you have the Gmail app installed. On Windows, download it from the Microsoft Store. On Android, get it from Google Play Store. On Mac, Gmail works through your web browser, so make sure you have Chrome or Safari installed and updated. Once the app is installed, it should appear in your default apps list.

Can I set different default email programs for work and personal emails?

Your operating system only allows one default email program at a time. However, you can add multiple email accounts to Gmail itself — go to Gmail Settings, then Accounts, then "Add another email address" to manage work and personal emails from one place.

Do I need to do anything special to make the change stick?

No. Once you select Gmail as your default, the change is immediate and permanent until you change it again. You do not need to restart your computer or phone, and you do not need to confirm anything else.