Today I’ll show you two ways to change your default email client on Windows 10: first using the search box, and second using the Start button and Settings screen.
- Note* Some older email clients may not show an icon in the drop-down list as they haven’t updated their code for Windows 10.
- Note* For Gmail choose Google Chrome as your default email app
Change Default Email Client via Search Box
- Type “Default Apps” into the Windows search box (bottom-left of your screen on the taskbar)
- Look for the “Default Apps (System Settings)” search result and click it on
- Look for the “Mail” heading and click on the icon underneath
- Choose your desired default email client from the drop-down list
- Wait a few seconds and you’re all done
Change Default Email Client via Start Button
Sometimes the Windows 10 search box may not be available, in that case use these instructions.
- Click the “Start” button (bottom-left corner Windows logo icon)
- Click the “Settings” gear icon (usually second from bottom)
- Now click the “Apps” icon in the Windows Settings window
- On the left-pane, click on “Default Apps“
- Look for the “Mail” heading, then click on the icon below it
- Choose your desired email client from the list
- Wait a few seconds and you’re done
Max Vessi says
It doesn’t work, I still get “NO programm associated for email” when I try to send documents by email with any software.
Richie says
Hi Max, just a few questions:
cheers, Richie
Bonnie J Enderle says
I have the same type of problem. I have set Thunderbird as my default email (a dozen times, at least). When I try to “share” a file through Word, it wants me to go to One Drive and then send a link. When I use my PDF program, it takes me to Outlook. I want to go straight to Thunderbird with both of these processes, but can’t get there any more. I have updated all programs.
Richie says
Hi Bonnie, can you try the following for me? Go to Help > About Thunderbird and see if you’re running 32 or 64 bit, then download the latest Thunderbird client of the same type, and reinstall with everything at defaults. Once installed, right-click on a PDF or Word file and choose Send To > Mail Recipient and hopefully Thunderbird will be selected. You won’t be able to change the “Share” button in Word afaik.
cheers
Richie
MUHAMMAD RAFIQ says
I am facing same problem, while I try to share a file through MSWord (M using MSOffice 365), it always taked me to outlook. Everything is settled, my default email client is Mail of Microsoft.
Richie says
Hi Muhammad, it’s not possible to change the ‘Share’ option in MS Word unless the mail client is fully MAPI-Compliant. cheers, Richie
Steve Last says
I have the opposite problem, while I have used Thunderbird in the past for business reasons I need to change it to Outlook, but the “send to mail recipient” always goes back to Thubderbird even htough the default email is now set to Outlook.
Thanks in advance
Richie says
Hi Steve, try doing a repair install of Office: Settings > Apps > Apps & Features > Microsoft Office > Modify > Repair/Quick Repair and see if that fixes the issue.
cheers
Richie