Gmail as Default Email Handler

Setting Gmail as your Default Email Handler

Most computers are set to open email links (like "Mail-To") using a desktop app like Outlook. However, because of security settings designed to protect school data, YCP Gmail accounts for employees won’t work with those third-party apps. 

To fix this, you’ll need to manually update the settings in your personal user profile so that these links open directly in your browser. Since these are Windows settings under individual user profiles, LTS cannot change them for you. This article will help guide you through the process. 

WINDOWS:

Step 1: Change the Default Email Program:

1. Navigate/Search to Settings

2. On the left select Apps

3. Select Default Apps

4. Search for MAILTO

5. Click on the displayed application to open the window allowing you to select a different application

6. Choose Google Chrome
    

Step 2: Allow the Site Handler in Google Chrome 

1.  Open the Google Chrome

2. Sign into MyYCP 

3. Launch your Email from the Gmail icon

4. Once to your inbox Navigate to the right side of the URL field to find an icon that looks like two linked diamonds

   • If you hover over this it will display "page wants to install service handler"

5. Click the diamonds

6. Choose Allow

The configuration is now complete and if you click a mail-to link (like this: LTShelp@ycp.edu) it will now open Chrome and pull up a new draft email. If you commonly use more than one computer, these settings will need to be adjusted on each computer you use. 

APPLE:

Step 1: Change the Default Email Program from Chrome:

1. Open the Google Chrome

2. Go to Settings

3. Go to Privacy and Security

4. Go to Site Settings

5. Expand Additional Permissions

6. Go to Protocol Handlers

7. Select "Sites can ask to handle protocols"

Step 2: Allow the Site Handler in Google Chrome:

1. Sign into MyYCP 

2. Launch your Email from the Gmail icon

3. Once to your inbox Navigate to the right side of the URL field to find an icon that looks like two linked diamonds

   • If you hover over this it will display "page wants to install service handler"

4. Click the diamonds

5. Choose Allow

6. Right click on a linked email address (LTShelp@ycp.edu)

7. Hover over "Open Link with>" and choose "Configure"

   • This will take you back to the Protocol Handlers.

8. Click on the three dots to the right of mail.google.com 

9. Select "Set as Default"

The configuration is now complete and if you click a mail-to link (like this: LTShelp@ycp.edu) it will now open Chrome and pull up a new draft email. If you commonly use more than one computer, these settings will need to be adjusted on each computer you use.