What setting a default email does, and why it matters

When you click an email link on a website or in a document, your device needs to know which email app to open. Setting a default email app tells your computer or phone which one to use. Without a default set, you might get a menu asking which app you want every time, or the link might not work at all.

This matters most if you use more than one email app — say, Gmail in a browser and Outlook on your desktop, or a work email client alongside your personal one. Setting a default prevents confusion and saves you a click each time.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and search for "email" to pick your default email app.
  • On Mac, open System Settings > General > Default Web Browser, then use Mail app preferences to set the default email handler separately.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > Apps > Default Mail App and choose which email app handles email links.
  • On Android, long-press an email link, tap "Open with", choose your app, then select "Always" to make it the default.
  • Your default email app and your default web browser are separate settings and work independently.

Setting a default email app on Windows 11

Open the Settings app (press the Windows key and type "Settings"). Go to Apps, then Default Apps. In the search box at the top, type "email".

You will see a list of email apps installed on your computer. Click the one you want to use as your default. Windows will ask you to confirm; click the app name again. From that point on, any email link you click will open in that app.

If the app you want does not appear in the list, it may not be installed, or it may not be registered with Windows as an email handler. Check your app's settings to see if there is an option to set it as the default email client.

Setting a default email app on Mac

Mac handles email defaults differently than Windows. Open System Settings and go to General. You will see a section called Default Web Browser — this controls web links, not email links.

To set your default email app, open the Mail app (the built-in Apple email client). Go to Mail in the menu bar, then Settings (or Preferences on older versions). Click the General tab. At the bottom, you will see "Default email reader" — choose your preferred app from the dropdown.

If you use Gmail, Outlook, or another third-party email app, make sure it is installed first. Some apps may not appear in this dropdown if they are not registered as email handlers on your Mac.

Setting a default email app on iPhone

Go to Settings and scroll down to Apps. Tap Default Mail App. You will see a list of email apps installed on your phone. Tap the one you want to use as your default.

From then on, when you tap an email link in Safari, Messages, or any other app, it will open in your chosen email app. You can change this setting at any time by returning to the same menu.

Setting a default email app on Android

Android does not have a single settings menu for default email apps the way iPhone does. Instead, the first time you tap an email link, Android shows you a menu of available email apps. Tap the one you want, then tap Always (not "Just once").

If you change your mind later, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps (the exact path varies by phone maker). Look for "Email" or "Mail" and tap it to choose a different default. On some phones, you may need to go to Settings > Apps, find your current default email app, tap it, then look for a "Set as default" or "Default app" option.

If you cannot find a default email setting on your Android phone, try this: open your current email app's settings and look for an option like "Set as default email app" or "Make default". Not all Android phones expose this setting in the same place.

What happens if you do not set a default

If no default is set, your device will show a menu every time you click an email link, asking which app you want to use. This is not a problem if you only have one email app installed, but it becomes annoying quickly if you have two or more.

On some older devices or with certain email apps, an email link might not work at all if no default is set. Setting a default ensures the link opens reliably every time.

Changing your default email app later

You can change your default email app at any time by following the same steps for your device. There is no limit to how many times you can switch. This is useful if you install a new email app and want to try it, or if you stop using one app and want another to take over.

Changing your default does not delete your old email app or your messages in it — it only changes which app opens when you click an email link.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have two email apps both set as default?

No. Your device can only have one default email app at a time. If you use multiple email accounts, you can add all of them to a single email app (like Outlook or Gmail) instead of using separate apps. This way, one default app handles all your email.

Why does my email app not appear in the default apps list?

The app may not be registered with your operating system as an email handler. Check the app's settings or help documentation to see if there is an option to register it. Some apps require you to open them and complete a setup step before they appear in the default apps menu.

Does setting a default email app affect my web browser?

No. Your default email app and default web browser are separate settings. Changing one does not affect the other. You can use Chrome as your browser and Outlook as your email app, for example.

What if I want to use a different email app just once?

On Windows and Mac, right-click an email link and choose "Open with" to pick a different app for that single click without changing your default. On iPhone and Android, tap the email link, and when the menu appears, choose a different app and tap "Just once" instead of "Always".

Will changing my default email app delete my messages?

No. Your messages stay in whichever app they were in. Changing your default only changes which app opens when you click an email link. Your old email app and all your messages remain on your device.