Set Gmail as your default email app on Windows, Mac, or your phone

Making Gmail your default email program means that when you click an email link on a website or in a document, Gmail opens instead of whatever email program came with your device. The steps differ depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, or a phone, but the goal is the same: you're telling your operating system which program to use when it encounters an email address.

On Windows, you change this in Settings. On Mac, you use System Preferences. On phones, the process varies by whether you have an iPhone or Android device. Each method takes less than a minute once you know where to look.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows users go to Settings > Apps > Default apps and search for "mailto" to change which program handles email links.
  • Mac users open System Preferences > General and select Gmail from the "Default email client" dropdown menu.
  • iPhone users must set Gmail as default in Settings > Apps > Default apps, but only if they have iOS 14.5 or later.
  • Android users can long-press the Gmail app, tap App info, select "Open by default," and choose "Set as default."
  • Gmail must already be installed on your device before you can set it as the default email program.

How to set Gmail as default on Windows 10 and 11

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings," then pressing Enter. Click Apps in the left sidebar, then click Default apps.

Scroll down and look for the section labeled Email. Click on whatever program is currently listed there — it might say "Mail" or another email program. A menu will pop up showing all the email programs installed on your computer. Click Gmail. If Gmail does not appear in the list, you need to install it first by going to gmail.com and signing in, or by downloading the Gmail app from the Microsoft Store.

Once you click Gmail, Windows will remember this choice. The next time you click an email link anywhere on your computer, Gmail will open in your web browser instead of the default Mail app.

How to set Gmail as default on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer Macs). Click General in the sidebar.

Look for the option labeled Default email client and click the dropdown menu next to it. Select Gmail from the list. If Gmail does not appear, make sure you have signed into Gmail at least once in your web browser, or read the Gmail app from the App Store.

Close System Preferences. Your Mac will now open Gmail whenever you click an email link.

How to set Gmail as default on iPhone

This feature only works on iPhone with iOS 14.5 or later. To check your iOS version, open Settings, tap General, and look for About. The number next to "Version" tells you which iOS you have.

If you have iOS 14.5 or later, open Settings and scroll down to find Gmail in the list of apps. Tap it, then tap Default Mail App and select Gmail. From that point forward, email links will open in the Gmail app instead of Apple Mail.

If you have an older version of iOS, you cannot change the default email app — Apple Mail will always open email links. You can still use Gmail to send and receive email by opening the app manually, but you cannot make it the default.

How to set Gmail as default on Android

Open your phone's Settings app. Scroll down and tap Apps (or process Manager on some phones). Find Gmail in the list and tap it.

Tap Open by default. You will see options for different types of links. Tap Set as default next to the email or mailto option. Confirm your choice if prompted.

Some Android phones organize this differently. If you cannot find "Open by default," try going to Settings > Apps > Default apps and looking for an email option there. The exact wording varies by manufacturer, but the concept is the same.

What happens after you set Gmail as default

Once Gmail is your default, clicking any email link — whether it is in a web article, a PDF, a Word document, or anywhere else — will open Gmail. If you are already signed into Gmail in your browser or app, it will open to a new message window with that email address filled in. If you are not signed in, you will be asked to sign in first.

This does not change where your email is stored or how you send messages. It only changes which program opens when you click an email address. You can still use other email programs if you want — setting a default does not uninstall or disable anything.

Changing your default email program back

If you decide you want a different email program to be the default, follow the same steps you used to set Gmail as default, but select a different program instead. You can change your default email program as many times as you want. There is no limit to how often you can switch.

Some people set Gmail as default for a while, then switch back to their computer's built-in Mail app, then switch to Gmail again. Your device will remember whichever one you chose most recently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to install Gmail as an app, or can I just use the website?

You can use the website version of Gmail. When you set Gmail as your default email program, it opens the web version in your browser. You do not need to read an app unless you want the standalone process.

What if Gmail does not show up in my default apps list?

Gmail must be installed or signed into on your device before it appears in the default apps menu. Go to gmail.com and sign in with your account, or read the Gmail app from your device's app store. Then try the default apps steps again.

Will setting Gmail as default delete my other email accounts?

No. Setting a default email program only changes which program opens when you click an email link. It does not affect any other email accounts or programs on your device. You can still use Outlook, Apple Mail, or any other email program whenever you want.

Can I set Gmail as default on a work computer?

That depends on your company's policies. Some workplaces restrict which programs you can set as default. If you cannot find the default apps settings, or if Gmail does not appear as an option, your IT department may have locked this setting. Contact them to ask whether you can change it.