How to set Gmail as default email client in Windows 8?

Question

How can I use Gmail (in Chrome) as the default email handler in Windows 8?

I used to use GmailNotifier in Windows 7, but that doesn't seem to work anymore. Clicking on a mailto: link simply opens Chrome with a blank page.

I am not interested in using the Mail app built into Windows 8.

Answer 1

Open Gmail in Chrome. Then see this. Click on the eye in the address bar.

Answer 2

1. Close Chrome
2. Open C:\Users\<your username>\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\User Data\Local State with Notepad (or, any other text editor).
3. Locate "javascript": true, in protocol_handler section of the file, replace true with false and save the file.
   
4. Launch Chrome, visit Gmail and Sign in.
5. In address bar of same tab, type/paste this & hit enter: javascript:navigator.registerProtocolHandler("mailto", "https://mail.google.com/mail/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s", "Gmail");
6. [Optional] Close Chrome & revert back your changes in Local State file.
7. Open Default Programs.
   
8. Click Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
   
9. Select MAILTO and then click Change program... button.
   
10. Choose Google Chrome from the list.

Done!

Answer 3

Follow the steps after installation of Gmail Client

Change your Default Client to Gmail..

Hope this Helps...

Answer 4

See the below link. It expands upon Sant14's answer by first having you create the necessary entry that would then show up in your 'Default Programs' > 'Programs' list.

http://www.groovypost.com/howto/change-windows-8-default-email-client/

Answer 5

I found an easier solution. The link below installs an applet which gives you the option as a check box, and you don't have to use Chrome. I'm using Firefox because I have some sort of virus on Chrome that hijacks clicks and sends me to advertisements.

http://toolbar.google.com/gmail-helper/notifier_windows.html