What "default email" means and why you might want to change it

Your default email is the email address your device or service uses automatically when you send messages, reset passwords, or receive notifications. On most devices and accounts, this is the first email you set up or the one marked as primary. Changing it means picking a different email to be that automatic choice going forward.

You might want to change your default email if you've created a new account you prefer to use, if your old email address is compromised or no longer active, or if you're consolidating multiple email accounts into one. The steps differ depending on whether you're changing the default on your phone, computer, email service itself, or a specific process.

Key Takeaways

  • Your default email is the one your device automatically uses for sending messages and account recovery unless you pick a different one each time.
  • On Windows and Mac computers, you change the default email in your system settings, not in the email process itself.
  • On iPhones and Android phones, the process varies by device and by which email app you use — Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail each have different steps.
  • If you're changing the default email on a service like Gmail or Outlook, you're usually changing which address is listed as your primary account contact, not which app opens by default.
  • After you change your default email, test it by resetting a password or sending a test message to confirm the change took effect.

Changing your default email on Windows

On Windows 10 and 11, the default email app is set in your system settings. Open Settings, then go to Apps and select Default apps. Scroll down to find Email and click on the current default app listed there. A menu will appear showing all email applications installed on your computer — select the one you want to use as your default.

If the email app you want isn't listed, it may not be installed yet. read it from the Microsoft Store or from the app's official website, then return to Default apps and select it. After you make the change, Windows will open that email app whenever you click a mailto link or your system needs to send an email notification.

Changing your default email on Mac

On Mac, open Mail and go to Mail in the menu bar, then select Preferences. Click the General tab. At the top, you'll see a dropdown menu labeled Default email reader — click it and select the email app you want to use as your default. Close the preferences window and the change takes effect when ready.

If you use multiple email apps and want to change which one opens when you click an email link in a web browser or document, you can also set this in System Preferences under General, though the Mail app setting is usually the more direct route.

Changing your default email on iPhone

On iPhone, the default email app changed with iOS 14 and later. Go to Settings, scroll down and find Mail, then tap Default Mail App. Select the email app you want to use — your options are usually Apple Mail, Gmail, Outlook, or another email app you've installed. Once you select it, that app will open whenever you tap an email link or use Siri to send an email.

Note that this only changes which app opens by default. Your actual email accounts remain in whichever apps you've set them up in. If you want to use Gmail as your default app but also receive mail in Apple Mail, both apps can stay installed and active — you're just choosing which one launches first.

Changing your default email on Android

On Android, the process depends on your phone's manufacturer and version. Most Android phones show a prompt the first time you click an email link asking which app you want to use — select your preferred email app and check the box that says Always or Set as default. If you've already set a default and want to change it, go to Settings, then Apps (or process Manager), find your current default email app, and look for an option that says Clear defaults. The next time you click an email link, you'll see the prompt again and can select a new default.

Some Android phones also let you set defaults through Settings > Apps > Default apps, though this menu varies by manufacturer. If you can't find it, clearing defaults for your current email app and then clicking an email link is the most reliable method.

Changing your primary email address within Gmail or Outlook

If you want to change which email address is listed as your primary contact on your Gmail or Outlook account — the one that appears on your profile and receives account notifications — that's different from changing your default email app. In Gmail, go to your account settings by clicking your profile picture in the top right, select Manage your Google Account, then click the Personal info tab. Find Email and click it to change your primary address. You can add a new email first, then set it as primary, or change which existing email is marked as primary.

In Outlook, click your profile picture in the top left, select View account, then go to Security & privacy. Under Email addresses, you can add a new address and set it as your primary. Both services will send future notifications and password resets to whichever address you mark as primary, but this doesn't change which app opens when you click an email link on your device.

Testing your change and troubleshooting

After you change your default email, test it to confirm the change worked. Click an email link on a website or in a document — your new default email app should open. If it doesn't, go back to your settings and verify the change was saved. On phones, clearing the app cache sometimes helps: go to Settings > Apps, find your email app, and select Clear cache.

If you changed your primary email address within a service like Gmail or Outlook and want to confirm it took effect, try resetting your password. You should receive the reset link at your new primary email address. If you receive it at the old address instead, log back into your account settings and double-check that you saved the change — sometimes the system requires you to confirm the new address by clicking a link sent to it first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default email delete my old email account?

No. Changing your default email only changes which app opens automatically or which address is marked as primary on a service. Your old email account and all messages in it remain intact. You can keep using it in the background or delete it separately if you choose.

Can I have multiple email accounts open at the same time?

Yes. Setting a default email doesn't prevent you from using other email apps or accounts. You can have Gmail, Outlook, and Apple Mail all installed and active on the same device. The default just determines which one opens first when you click an email link.

What happens to emails sent to my old default email address?

They still arrive at that address. Changing your default email doesn't forward old messages or redirect incoming mail. If you want to stop using an old email address, you'll need to update your contacts and accounts separately, or set up forwarding within that email service if it offers it.

Do I need to change my default email on every device I own?

Yes. Your default email is set per device, not across all your devices at once. If you use a phone, tablet, and computer, you'll need to change the default on each one separately if you want them all to use the same email app.

Why does my email app keep asking me which app to use instead of opening the default?

This usually means the default wasn't saved properly or was cleared. Go back to your settings, confirm your default is still set, and try clearing the cache of your email app. On some Android phones, you may also need to restart your device for the change to take full effect.