Windows 10: MAILTO Links do not work unless Outlook is the default email app. Windows 11

I have a new laptop and after setting up all my other applications I am noticing that I can not click any "MAILTO" links. I build my own web sites and it's quite frustrating to be unable to test my pages to make sure the links are working.Reproduction:- Windows Settings > Apps > Default Apps, Search for "MAILTO"- IF the provider is set to a Microsoft product Outlook then all "MAILTO" links will open Outlook- IF the provider is set to anything else Thunderbird then the link is completely unresponsive. Ctrl-Click opens the URL in another tab but the browser does not go anywhere.Env

:)

 

Windows 11: Set e-mail program for mailto links

Hi.

I cannot set Thundbird as the default program for opening MAILTO links (e.g. found on websites). I tried the guide linked below, but Thunderbird just does not show up on the list. It does show up on the general list of installed apps. It just does not show on the list for links. And of course Windows 11 is too smart as to allow me to browse for an .exe file.

Link to a guide that used to work for other ppl:

https://www.howtogeek.com/770923/how-to-set-your-default-email-app-in-windows-11/

 

Windows 7 - Outlook not listed under Default Programs - Mailto protocol stuck on Google Chrome

Ever since moving to Chrome as my default browser instead of Explorer 11, and clicking on an email link on a web page or in an email, it automatically opens Gmail. I am unable to set this back to Outlook. Using control panel "associate file type or protocol
with a specific program', the mailto: protocol option only provides Chrome as a choice. Office/Outlook is not listed.

Control Panel / Set your default programs - does not show Outlook as a potential default program.

The Outlook option checkbox of 'Make Outlook your default email program', does nothing.

Before making Chrome the default browser, this all worked fine. Clicking a mailto link brought up Office/Outlook.

Interestingly, in the registry, HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / mailto / shell / open / command is set to Outlook.exe as is

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / software / classes / mailto / shell / open / command

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / Protocols / handler / mailto - is {3050f3DA-98B5-11CF-BB82-00AA00BDCE0B} as is

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT / Wow6432Node / Protocols / Handler / mailto and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / software / classes / protocols / handler / mailto and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / software / classes / Wow6432Node / Protocols / Handler / mailto and

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE / software / Wow6432Node / Protocols / Handler / mailto

HKEY_CURRENT_USER / software / microsoft / windows / shell / assocaitions / URL Associations / mailto / UserChoice is ChromeHTML

HKEY_USERS\S-1-5-21-14291... / software / microsoft / windows / shell / associations / urlassociations / mailto / userchocie is ChromeHTML

This has been annoying for months as I need to cut and paste email addresses since Outlook is my primary email client. I have been unable to find a way to return the default program for mailto to open Outlook again.

 

email links in Outlook open Mail, not Outlook mail.

Try this out:

• Open Settings and click the Apps section.
  
• Click Default apps on the left.
  
• Here you probably already see that Outlook is set as your default for email at the top of the list (if not, set it again).
  
• Scroll down and choose "Associate apps by protocol"
  
• Scroll down the list to the M's and find "MAILTO" and make sure that one also says Outlook (if not, set it there also)
  
• Try clicking an email link again and see if it pops to Outlook.