The process of switching default apps has become more complicated in Windows 11 (possibly intentionally). This is especially frustrating for apps we use every day, such as the browser and our mailing app. So we will take a look at how to set up a default email app on Windows.
What is a Default App on Windows 11?
Default apps are the (usually) pre-installed apps on your Windows device that are launched when an event corresponding to the app is triggered. For example, the Mail app is launched by default as soon as you click on email contact.
What is the Need to Change Default App on Windows 11?
The option to change the default app gives users the freedom to use their own apps. For example, Windows 11 comes with Edge as the default browser. However, most users will choose Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox over Microsoft Edge as their preferred browser. In such a scenario, it can get frustrating for the user if Edge is launched every time they click on a URL/link. Hence, the option to change the default app proves to be a lifesaver for many people.
Steps to Set Default Email App on Windows 11
As mentioned earlier, the process of setting up the default mail app for Windows 11 is different from its predecessor. Therefore, this article will show you how to set up a default mail client on Windows 11, using the Mailbird app as a reference.
Open the Start menu and click on Settings or press Win + I on your keyboard to trigger the shortcut for the Settings app. (Learn about more such Windows 11 shortcuts here)
Select the Apps option present in the left menu bar.
Click on Default apps.
In the Search apps box, search for the email client you want to set as the default email client on Windows 11. For this tutorial, I will search for Mailbird. You can also scroll down to the app instead of using the search box.
Click on the box containing your preferred email client’s name (Mailbird for me).
There might be a long list of default file types or link types. Locate the URL:mailto file type and click on it.
A pop-up box will appear. Choose the app you want to set as your default email app (Mailbird, in my case).
Click on OK.
You have successfully changed the default email app. From now on, all email contact links will launch your preferred email app instead of the Microsoft Mail app (previously, Windows Mail). Therefore, users can change their default mail client using this method. Using this menu, you can also change other default apps like Media Player and Image Viewer.
