Solved MAILTO doesn't let me choose my default email client


silversmith

silversmith

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windows 11
In order for programs like excel to link to my email program, I need to have the WIN 11 default MAILTO be my default email. But when I go to settings to set MAILTO default, my default mail handler (Mailbird) is not a choice. And there is no browse computer option, only 'Browse Apps at MS store'. How can I set Mailbird to be the MAILTO default when it is not listed as a choice, even though it is indeed my default email? Many thanks. Peter
 
Windows Build/Version
22631.3880

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System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
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    dell
Hi, silversmith, welcome to the forum 🙏

Have you tried the processes in this tutorial?

Most commonly “Option Three” or do you mean “Mailbird” isn’t a choice during the option three process?

www.elevenforum.com

Choose Default Apps in Windows 11

This tutorial will show you different ways to set default apps used to open file and link types for your account in Windows 11. A default app is the program that Windows has assigned to open a file or link type with by default when you open it. Default apps you choose will only apply to your...
www.elevenforum.com www.elevenforum.com
 

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Failing that, open Mailbird:

  • Start by opening the Mailbird menu in the top lefthand corner (i.e. the three horizontal lines).
  • Click on Settings.
  • Navigate to the Advanced tab.
  • Here, apply a checkmark in the box next to Default email application: Tell me if Mailbird is not the default email client.
  • Finally, click on the Set as default button.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.5039
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    1000/400Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
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    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
Thanks for responding. As I said in my question, the MAILTO setting does not have Mailbird as a choice. Also no choice to browse to it. So I can not set it for MAILTO in Win 11 settings. In Mailbird, the program is set as default (as I said in the question). I think the issue may be "registration" of the program in the registry - but I can't seem to find how to do this. Thanks.
Peter
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    dell
silversmith said:
I think the issue may be "registration" of the program in the registry
Click to expand...
Check under Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Clients\Mail
... see if Mailbird is the default...

7670.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Some members will ask you to do something you have done because in windows, there is more than one way to skin a cat.

Out of interest, did you install Mailbird for all users or just the current?
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build 22631.5039
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz (4th Gen?)
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    Onboard
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list.
    OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
    Noctua NH-D15 Elite Class Dual Tower CPU Cooler / 6 x EziDIY 120mm / 2 x Corsair 140mm somethings / 1 x 140mm Thermaltake something / 2 x 200mm Corsair.
    Keyboard
    Corsair K95 / Logitech diNovo Edge Wireless
    Mouse
    Logitech: G402 / G502 / Mx Masters / MX Air Cordless
    Internet Speed
    1000/400Mbps
    Browser
    All sorts
    Antivirus
    Kaspersky Premium
    Other Info
    I’m on a horse.
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 23H2 Build: 22631.4249
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7i EVO OLED 14" Touchscreen i5 12 Core 16GB/512GB
    CPU
    Intel Core 12th Gen i5-1240P Processor (1.7 - 4.4GHz)
    Memory
    16GB LPDDR5 RAM
    Graphics card(s)
    Intel Iris Xe Graphics Processor
    Sound Card
    Optimized with Dolby Atmos®
    Screen Resolution
    QHD 2880 x 1800 OLED
    Hard Drives
    M.2 512GB
    Antivirus
    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.
silversmith said:
I think the issue may be "registration" of the program in the registry
Click to expand...
Do one thing for me:
Create a mailto: shortcut on your Desktop, I'd like to see if it will register a Client, if any...

7675.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
Good thought - but yes, Mailbird is entered as in your example in the registry.
Thank you for the follow-up though.
Peter
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    dell
The "Mailto:" shortcut is created - clicking on it yields the same choices as in the setup-Apps (Outlook, Mail, Chrome, etc) but no Mailbird, and no choice to browse for it. Thanks for the thought.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    dell
silversmith said:
... no Mailbird, and no choice to browse for it.
Click to expand...
Do you have this Registry key?:
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Classes\Mailbird.Url.mailto

... if so, what Child keys are under it? ...

7678.jpg
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
No - Mailbird.URL.mailto is not there. But I certainly can create it - along with: -shell-open-command (data) Mailbird.
Maybe that is the issue? Many thanks.
Peter
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    dell
silversmith said:
I certainly can create it
Click to expand...
Worth a shot...
Here's the Mailbird.Url.mailto data:

7679.jpg

shell and open are (value not set):

7680.jpg

command is: (for me anyway, your path may differ)

7681.jpg

If it doesn't work, delete the Key and sub-keys, we'll figure something else out.
I gotta hit the hay though, good luck!
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix
  • Operating System
    Windows 11
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
I also had this issue with setting my 3rd party email client as the "default" in Windows even though my client software had a setting that would allegedly make it the default. But it did not work. So I wrote a registry script that finally did make it show up as a choice in the Windows default apps dialog. The script is posted below the screen shot.

1736871437813.webp

INI: 
Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

; Make sure you first check the registry under "mailto" for any existing "EmailDeveloperName\ProgramName" and substitute the actual names

; This line deletes current email client association
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\Shell\Associations\UrlAssociations\mailto]

[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto]
@="URL:MailTo Protocol"
"URL Protocol"=""
 
; The next 14 lines register your email program and allow it to show up in the Windows default apps dialog
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\RegisteredApplications]
"ProgramName"="SOFTWARE\\EmailDeveloperName\\ProgramName\\Capabilities"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\YourEmailDeveloperName\ProgramName\Capabilities]
"ApplicationDescription"="Open mailto on local machine"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\EmailDeveloperName\ProgramName\Capabilities\UrlAssociations]
"mailto"="ProgramName.Mailto"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\RegisteredApplications]
"ProgramName"="SOFTWARE\\Wow6432Node\\EmailDeveloperName\\ProgramName\\Capabilities"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\EmailDeveloperName\ProgramName\Capabilities]
"ApplicationDescription"="Open mailto on local machine"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\EmailDeveloperName\EmailDeveloperName\ProgramName\Capabilities\UrlAssociations]
"mailto"="ProgramName.Mailto"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\WOW6432Node\RegisteredApplications]
"ProgramName"="SOFTWARE\\Wow6432Node\\EmailDeveloperName\\ProgramName\\Capabilities"
 
; These lines set your 3rd party software as the default email client in Windows
; Be sure to change the path to your email client location, e.g. @="\"C:\Program Files\ProgramDirectory
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mailto\shell\open\command]
@="\"D:\\PROGRAMDIRECTORY\\ProgramName\\Program.exe\" %1"
 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ProgramName.Mailto]
@="URL:MailTo Protocol"
"URL Protocol"=""
 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ProgramName.Mailto\shell\open\command]
@="\"D:\\PROGRAMDIRECTORY\\ProgramName\\Program.exe\" %1"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mailto]
@="URL:MailTo Protocol"
"URL Protocol"=""
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mailto\shell\open\command]
@="\"D:\\PROGRAMDIRECTORY\\ProgramName\\Program.exe\" %1"
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ProgramName.Mailto]
@="URL:MailTo Protocol"
"URL Protocol"=""
 
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ProgramName.Mailto\shell\open\command]
@="\"D:\\PROGRAMDIRECTORY\\ProgramName\\Program.exe\" %1"

;------END OF SCRIPT----------------------------
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux & Windows 11 DUAL BOOT
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Home Built
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