February 28, 2012

Open Mailto: Links Using Gmail in Google Chrome

A few months after Google Calendar added support for handling webcal: links in Chrome, Gmail can now become the default handler for mailto: links. If you open Gmail in Google Chrome, you'll see an infobar at the top of the page that asks if you "allow Gmail to open all email links". Just click "use Gmail" and all the mailto: links (like admin@google.com) will open using Gmail, instead of a native mail client like Outlook or Thunderbird.


"Chrome allows web services to ask if you'd like to use them to open certain links. While most links generally take you to another page, some links can open programs and perform other actions. For example, mailto: links can open your email program and webcal: links can add events to your calendar program. These links are referred to as protocols and the programs they use are called handlers. Many web services these days, including Gmail and Google Calendar, can act as handlers," explains Google.

To edit protocol handlers in Chrome, open the settings page, click "Show advanced settings" at the bottom of the page, click "Content settings", then "Manage handlers" and select "Gmail" from the site dropdown. Another option is to open a new tab and paste this in the address bar: chrome://settings/handlers. By default, you'll see an almost empty page with no active handler. You can add protocol handlers from the sites that support this feature: Gmail, Google Calendar (and other services in the future).


Chrome is a little late to the party: Mozilla added support for protocol handlers in Firefox 3, back in 2008 and you can set Gmail as default handler for mailto: from the options dialog.

{ Thanks, Kevin. }
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40 comments:

  1. Paul HelmickFebruary 28, 2012 at 8:36 AM

    How do you get this to default to your google apps account?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. AnonymousFebruary 28, 2012 at 9:11 AM

      it should work - and will definitely work with transitioned accounts

      Delete
  2. AFebruary 28, 2012 at 10:06 AM

    This is just AWESOME. Thank you Google!

    ReplyDelete
  3. captainorangeFebruary 28, 2012 at 11:26 AM

    I see the option on my Macbook Pro, but there is no way to add a handler.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. GwiredFebruary 28, 2012 at 1:21 PM

      Go to Gmail first it will request if you want to use gmail first. Make sure you have the latest update of Chrome.

      If you ever say no though you have to go Under the Hood -> Content Settings ->Manage Handlers -> add gmail

      Delete
    2. Henry LouisFebruary 29, 2012 at 4:56 AM

      Thank you Gwired for sharing this information. I found it.

      Delete
    3. captainorangeFebruary 29, 2012 at 6:36 AM

      Thanks. Chrome just hadn't updated yet. All good now. I was using a plug-in for Gmail before. This makes things a bit cleaner.

      Delete
  4. AnonymousFebruary 29, 2012 at 6:14 AM

    Not sure how but I have been using gmail as my mail handler for years.

    ReplyDelete
  5. AnonymousFebruary 29, 2012 at 5:00 PM

    I did not allow the initial prompt from gmail to allow the handler, then I accidentally deleted it from the manage handler box in chrome settings. How can i get it back?

    ReplyDelete
  6. PaulMarch 1, 2012 at 1:00 PM

    Yes this is good no excuse to have any other Email client

    ReplyDelete
  7. custom-writing.co.ukMarch 2, 2012 at 12:35 PM

    Good work !Well done.

    ReplyDelete
  8. ChelseaMarch 4, 2012 at 6:20 AM

    Thanks so much for taking the time to post this! One more suggestion for those who use Mac Mail (or perhaps any other email (web or client), after "Resetting the Handler" in Google Chrome, I had to back into my email application and set it as the default email reader again (mac mail in my case.)

    Thanks again!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. derekApril 19, 2012 at 6:48 AM

      - Unset the handler in Chrome.
      - Go into Mail.app preferences and re-set the mailto handler in there to Mail

      Delete
  9. carbamide peroxideMarch 4, 2012 at 12:18 PM

    I started using gmail as a temporary thing but I've stuck with it cos I like it!

    ReplyDelete
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  12. AnonymousMarch 5, 2012 at 12:31 PM

    Is there a group policy setting for this yet?

    ReplyDelete
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    ReplyDelete
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    Hi,
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  15. Bill BennettMarch 13, 2012 at 4:43 PM

    This works just fine, but can I tweak it so the Gmail compuse screen opens in a new tag rather than a new window?

    ReplyDelete
  16. AnonymousMarch 22, 2012 at 2:50 AM

    It really works man.

    ReplyDelete
  17. AnonymousApril 19, 2012 at 5:27 AM

    I hate it, cause it makes Google Chrome the default handler along with Gmail. I don't want a system-wise change, I want the email links to be handled by gmail within Google Chrome only.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Rajeeb BanstolaMay 19, 2012 at 8:52 PM

    Thanks I really need it. Windows was always opening hotmail but now problem solved

    ReplyDelete
  19. AnonymousMay 24, 2012 at 5:34 PM

    doesn;t work with chrome 19

    ReplyDelete
  20. AnonymousJuly 25, 2012 at 3:43 PM

    TO ADD NEW PROTOCOL: in Windows 7...go to Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Default Programs...choose your email handler and make sure you go in and click box next to allow for Mail To: protocols for Google Chrome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownAugust 9, 2012 at 9:45 PM

      "...choose your email handler..." no, that will simply make your desktop email client respond to mailto links in chrome. It will not make gmail the default mail client for mailto links.

      Delete
  21. UnknownSeptember 1, 2012 at 8:52 PM

    I have set the default to Gmail for all mailto links and have made the necessary changes in the settings as well. But when I click on an Email link, it opens a new window (new tab page), it doesn't redirect to Gmail page as it used to. It worked fine earlier. I tried system restore to the time it worked fine, but doesn't work either. Please Help

    ReplyDelete
  22. dhlotterSeptember 26, 2012 at 7:12 AM

    if this is not working, try going to any other mail client on your pc and remove the default application tick.

    ReplyDelete
  23. UnknownSeptember 27, 2012 at 9:07 AM

    Does this work in Ubuntu Linux? I only just recently (in the past month) started using Google Chrome as my only browser. I have version Version 22.0.1229.79. I'm using the most up-to-date Ubuntu Linux available at this time, which is 12.10 quantal (beta). I have never seen gmail ask me if it can be the default handler, and it's not available in Ubuntu's System Settings -> Details either. When I go to Chrome's Settings, Show advanced settings, Content settings, Manage Handlers, it's empty and there's no way to add anything.

    So, does this work in Ubuntu Linux?

    ReplyDelete
  24. UnknownSeptember 27, 2012 at 9:26 AM

    Since this feature doesn't seem to work in Ubuntu Linux or the most recent version of Chrome, I don't know which, I just installed "Mailto: for Gmail" from the Chrome Web Store. It worked perfectly. It was the first of many similar extensions listed when I searched on "mailto gmail".

    ReplyDelete
  25. Adam WildavskyNovember 12, 2012 at 10:55 AM

    I found this tremendously confusing until I read this article:

    http://support.google.com/chrome/bin/answer.py?hl=en&answer=1382847

    It turns out Chrome now displays a protocol handler icon in the URL bar.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. UnknownNovember 21, 2012 at 10:15 AM

      thank you! this worked for me. I opened GMail and there was some sort of icon next to the star in the URL box on the right side. I clicked that icon and there was the option :)

      Delete
    2. UnknownNovember 28, 2012 at 9:31 AM

      THANK YOU! I finally found something that worked! You rock.

      Delete
    3. Steve NelsonJanuary 22, 2013 at 6:09 AM

      Mystery solved. Thanks for the link.

      Delete
  26. FastEddieMarch 21, 2013 at 1:28 AM

    who, what, what link worked I am in Google Mail HELL

    ReplyDelete
  27. FastEddieMarch 21, 2013 at 1:32 AM

    BTW I am using CHROME Version 26.0.1410.28 m, on windows 7.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Paul LittlefieldApril 16, 2013 at 8:30 AM

    Using Chromium Version 26.0.1410.43 (189671) and cannot get Mozilla Thunderbird to be the default mailto: URI protocol handler!

    ReplyDelete
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