Change The Default Email Client In Firefox

Martin Brinkmann
Jul 6, 2009
Updated • Feb 13, 2015
Firefox, Gmail
|
5

Many Firefox users do not know that they can change the default email client in the web browser easily.

What even fewer know is that it is even possible to not only select desktop email clients but also web based email providers such as Yahoo Mail or Gmail as the default provider for all mailto links.

The mailto links in the format mailto:[email protected] are launched with the default application that has been set in the Firefox web browser.

This application may also be used when scripts or other means are used on websites that provide you with options to send emails.

To change that one needs to open the options of the web browser. Firefox users need to tap on the Alt-key on the keyboard and select Tools > Options from the menu bar that opens up after they do.

This opens the Firefox preferences. There you need to switch to the applications tab. Firefox lists all known file types link types on the page.

You can either scroll down until you find mailto listed there or enter it in the search form at the top.

The right side of the mailto content type reveals the program or service that is currently used by Firefox when these links are clicked on.

A click on the row displays a menu icon that lists other options that you can select for the content type instead.

firefox default email client

Next to the default option, a client like Thunderbird or Outlook for example, you find Gmail and Yahoo Mail listed there, an option to set the content type to always ask, and one to pick a local client from the system.If you select the last option a file browser opens up that you use to select an executable file on the system which can be useful if the email client was not detected automatically. This can be the case if you are using a portable program for example.The new action that you have selected for the content type becomes active immediately thereafter. It is highly suggested to give it a try to make sure it is working, especially if you have handpicked a local application for the job which Firefox did not list by default.

Summary
Change The Default Email Handler In Firefox
Article Name
Change The Default Email Handler In Firefox
Description
Find out how to change the default program that Firefox opens when you click on email links in the web browser.
Author
Advertisement

Tutorials & Tips


Previous Post: «
Next Post: «

Comments

  1. Joe said on April 30, 2014 at 6:26 pm
    Reply

    A major concern that you didn’t mention: what if two people use the same filename? I assume this will simply overwrite the earlier file, rather than adding an incremental number or using some other method to avoid overwriting.

    To avoid that, you have to “add ingredients” using the big blue plus sign in the “File Name” area when setting up the Dropbox section of the recipe. I had mine use sender address, time received, AND file name (in case someone sends the same filename twice and I want both copies, which could happen if they use some boilerplate name like “NewDocument1”).

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on April 30, 2014 at 6:52 pm
      Reply

      Is not Dropbox using copies of files automatically in this case? But good point, need to investigate this.

    2. Martin Brinkmann said on April 30, 2014 at 11:55 pm
      Reply

      I have tested it, only on Google Drive but still. Same name attachments are stored as well. You end up with several same name files in the same folder structure but that is okay I guess.

  2. Blue said on May 1, 2014 at 7:03 pm
    Reply

    They are poor variations of cloud storage (Google Drive, Dropbox or Microsoft’s OneDrive.) because they have specific limitations which do not make them idea as a cloud storage even for personal use. They don’t allow executable files (EXE, COM, BAT) to be uploaded or saved on their servers. I have purchase a few programs from online sources and want to save them in a cloud for easy access on the go. “Google Drive, Dropbox or Microsoft’s OneDrive.”, do not allow executable files so aren’t really a good choice for cloud storage or drop box option.

    So MediaFire or Firedrive to the rescue. Both allow executable files uploaded, saved and shared (Mediafire checks copyrights of the files shared). Plus for programmers, who need to allow a few individuals to download a specific file or folder to beta test a program, Mediafire and Firedrive are great resources. Firedrive allows online chat and messaging between Dropbox and shared file users. But as they are based in UK their download speed is not consistent for all Canada/USA users.

    1. Joe said on May 1, 2014 at 10:31 pm
      Reply

      I’ve never seen that limitation on Dropbox – I’ve been storing dozens of .exe and .bat files there for years. I thought maybe you were referring only to the web uploader (I never use it – my files are all uploaded from synchronized folders), but I just tested it and it works. Maybe you should give Dropbox another look.

  3. Joe said on May 1, 2014 at 10:53 pm
    Reply

    Another limitation: it apparently can only pull in one attachment. I usually wouldn’t have a use for this, but right now I am accepting job applications via email, so I was excited to try it out. I’ve received two so far, and both used multiple attachments for cover letter, resume, and references. In both cases, only one attachment made it into Dropbox. The recipe “ingredient” in IFTTT is “FirstAttachmentPrivateURL”, and there are no options other than “First…”.

    Of course, if you are asking people to send attachments, you could always specify to include just one file per email.

    1. Martin Brinkmann said on May 1, 2014 at 11:16 pm
      Reply

      They could also pack multiple files into a single archive.

    2. Garrett Williams said on December 10, 2014 at 5:02 pm
      Reply

      Because of this, I chose to have IFTTT just save all attachments instead of filtering to a specific sender or label. Multiple attachments worked just fine after that, though of course now I have various other attachments mixed in.
      I know this is an old comment, but it seems this solution should be mentioned.

      My main issue is that it doesn’t have the option of overwriting the old file, which puts a roadblock in my automation, as updated files must have a consistent name. Likely adding yet another online service to the mix to remedy that.

      @Martin: While a too-technical step for many people, asking for a zipped file might be a really nice test of computer literacy if hiring for a very technical job.

  4. Nathan Smith said on March 14, 2015 at 6:25 am
    Reply

    “You can change the folder path where those files are transferred to however”

    Do you just change one or more?
    File URL
    File name
    Dropbox folder path

    My dropbox folder name for example is John Smith……………however the path to get there is John Work/Clients/Jane Client

Leave a Reply

Check the box to consent to your data being stored in line with the guidelines set out in our privacy policy

We love comments and welcome thoughtful and civilized discussion. Rudeness and personal attacks will not be tolerated. Please stay on-topic.
Please note that your comment may not appear immediately after you post it.