Today I will show you how to set your default email client on Windows 10. There are a number of good alternatives to Outlook including Mozilla Thunderbird and Eudora so there’s no need to feel trapped into Microsoft products, the alternatives can offer better email management and features.
Note* This guide will only work if you have already installed the email client you want to make the default (ie. Thunderbird, Eudora). If you have not already done this you will likely only have one choice which is the default Windows 10 mail client.
Watch the video above or follow the text guide below.
Change the Default Email Client on Windows 10
- Click on the Start Menu
button bottom-left - Now click on the Settings
menu item - Then click the System
icon - Now click on the Default apps menu item
- Look for the Email heading
- Click on the current default email client just below heading
- The Choose an app menu should now be in view
- Click on the email client you wish to make the default app
- Close the Settings window
- All done!
Tom Wirt says
Hi Richie,
I bought a new computer last fall (Dell) Windows 10 with Office 2016 installed. I loaded Outlook 2016. When I click on it to open the Outlook App, I get the following
>>Cannot start Microsoft Outlook. Cannot open the Outlook window. The set of folders can not be opened. The file C:\users\newcl\OneDrive\ C:\users\newcl\OneDrive\Documents\Outlook Files\newclay@nutelecom.net-PORTABLECOYOYOTE2-Outlook.pst cannot be opened.<<
I have deleted and re-installed the Office 2016 program, and in starting Outlook 2016 get the same message. I have tried to follow the path to fine the offending .pst files thinking maybe if I deleted them, it would clear itself.
But when I follow the path, when I get to the second C:\users\newcl\OneDrive\Documents\ ….there is no Outlook Files (etc) folder. Could the .pst file be somewhere else. A search doesn't turn it up. Is there somewhere in the Outlook program where I can alter of delete the path Outlook is looking for for the .pst file?
If you can solve this one, the world will be perfect-well, almost. A friend at my ISP set the machine up so it's running Windows 10 Mail, but I don't like the interface at all. Thanks for whatever you can do.
Richie says
Hi Tom, this error is likely due to a corrupt profile settings file ([profilename].xml) so you’ll need to repair it following this guide: https://www.ablebits.com/office-addins-blog/2013/12/06/cannot-start-microsoft-outlook-solutions/ see how you go and let me know if you need any help. cheers!
Richie
Will says
Currently there is no option to choose firefox browser as mail client in Windows 10 seitings. Not offereded. And no way to select apps for firefox, either.
i think MS needs to be sent into the naughty corner again.
I’ve hit this problem after installing thunderbird,
I think it might be possible for firefox to set itself as default, but the only option it has is to be default browser.
Presumably there’s a registry entry, or even a ‘policy’ that allows this, but I’ve yet to find it.
Richie says
Hi Will, thanks for your comment. I do a lot of fresh installations of Windows 10 for clients and what I have found is that earlier versions of Win 10 had a lot of trouble with choosing default apps (including have no other option except a Microsoft app), but the latest releases seem to have fixed the issue. There may have also been some altered registry keys that applications have had to incorporate into their code in order to work with Windows 10.
Cheers!
Richie
Angelo Merenda says
Richie,
Thanks for helping people out! I upgraded to Windows 10 with my old copy of Office 10 installed. I just upgraded to Office 2016. I followed your instructions, so it shows “outlook 16” as the default email client. I also went into the Control Panel and associated all related files with outlook 16. I am even using Outlook 16 with no problems! However, I keep receiving the “default client not installed” error while I am using Outlook. Ideas?
Richie says
Hi Angelo, just to clarify, the error message is “default client not installed” and not “the default client not properly installed”? and also, under what circumstances are you receiving the error? Is it from clicking an email link on a web-page or something else? If you could let me know those details and I should be able to narrow down your issue.
Cheers! Richie
Jens Hørlück says
I have used opera mail for a number of years. But I cannot chose Opera mail as an option in Windows 10. I can download and install Opera mail, but I cannot make it my default mail client. I miss the option: “Choose from installed apps”
Richie says
Hi Jens, you may need to change file association .eml too, see this article: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-change-file-associations-in-windows-2624477 and let me know how you go. cheers, Richie
Tammy says
I’m try to send an email from my home screen on Windows 10 it keeps telling me there is no email program Associated to perform the requested action. Please install an email program or if one is already installed create an association in the default program control panel. So I went in and made my Yahoo mail my default program but it still will not allow me to email from my home screen. Please help
Richie says
Hi Tammy, you might want to change the file association too, see this article: https://www.lifewire.com/how-to-change-file-associations-in-windows-2624477 that should solve it. cheers, Richie
Daniel Schafer says
I have changed my default Email on Windows 10 to OE Classic. But I have a Logitech Keyboard which has keys for Browser, Email, Power, etc. But when I click the keyboard email key, it opens Microsoft’s email to its setup screen.
Is there any way to beat that, that is make OE classic respond to the keyboard key?
Richie says
Hi Daniel, I would suggest visiting Logitech software and drivers and see if there is any software that came with your keyboard. Most likely it would have. cheers, Richie
Lily says
Hi Richie
Love your ‘responsiveness’ to people – you are a helpful man!!!!
I have the opposite issue – I want my OUTLOOK to be the default – and it WAS the default – until I downloaded Thunderbird 2 days ago – and now it thinks it’s the default – even though “OUTLOOK” is selected in the place that you sent me to …
any ideas????
fingers crossed
Lily
Richie says
Thanks Lily, along with my guide you will also need to open Outlook, go to Tools > Options > Other and then under General, select the “Make Outlook the default program for E-mail, Contacts, and Calendar” check box. See how you go with that and let me know if you’re still having trouble 🙂 cheers! Richie
Barbara says
I I use Thunderbird email. I was sending pictures from photo Gallery all the time. Unexpected it does not work any more. I got information : No email associated to perform action. I create an association in the default programs control panel (even if I already have it). However I still have the same notification. What can I do to return to previous situation? Beside that my email works perfect. Please let me know What to do, Thank you
Barbara
Richie Brereton says
Hi Barbara, see this Microsoft article re. .eml file association: https://support.microsoft.com/en-au/kb/956693 let me know how you go. cheers! Richie
Annie Tobin says
Hi Richie, I have a little email client that I use to create email stationeries and up until March of this year the program worked beautifully. Now, I cannot send or receive emails through this client. When I try to set it up as the default email program it is not on the list of options in Windows 10. Is there someway I can do this as I really appreciate this email client and I do not want to use any alternatives.
Thanks in anvance……Annie T
Richie Brereton says
Hi Annie, was that after you upgraded to Windows 10 or? Also what is the name of the email client? You may need to reinstall and/or update to the latest version of the email client so perhaps check their website for any updates. Let me know how you go. cheers! Richie
Andrea says
I am trying to send a document saved to my documents in an email. Every time I pull up the document and try to send in email it gives me the message: No email associated to perform action. Please install an email program, or if one is installed, create an association in the default programs control panel. Having gotten this message I tried your process to no avail it will still not allow me to send the document in an email.
Richie Brereton says
Hi Andrea, yes it seems Windows 10 has some issues with certain mail clients being set as default. Best way is to open a new email, then attach the document to it, rather than right clicking on a document and choosing to send as email. If you’re using Outlook see this guide.
Cheers!
Richie
Rita says
Yahoo! You made my day, just found you with the answer to my headache. THANK YOU for taking the time to help us all in need. I went to this Guide and solved my problem
Richie says
Cheers Rita, glad it helped.
Carl Kibler says
how do I make aol the default email client for windows 10. And don’t tell me to change my email!
Donna Shepard says
My default email is set up as Outlook, exactly as you described however, when I go to Word and try to send a document, AOL opens! Can you please help??? *ripping out hair!*
Richie Brereton says
Hi Donna, unfortunately there is a bug in Windows 10 and I am not sure when they will attend to it. The bug is specifically with setting the default email program as with your issue. cheers! Richie
Hollywood Bob says
Eudora 7 is still after all these years the best app. for e-mail. WIN 10 doesn’t let you make it the default app, although there may be a workaround. If you right click on the Eudora icon and choose Run by Administrator, you won’t get the dialog that it isn’t the default. Maybe someone knows how to start in Admin mode every time without all the clicks.
Richie Brereton says
Hi Bob, thanks for the tip, seems a lot of people really love Eudora! You can run as administrator permanently as follows:
Cheers!
Richie
Brian C. Doutaz says
Richie,
Similar issue with W10 and after making Outlook the default and logging out to reset everything, when I go back and follow your suggestions, as Mark notes, there are no other options except for “Mail” app or search for “app in store:. And no, I will not give up Eudora even though there is NO newer version to be had; it is simply too good and too simple as well as truly portable. If no other workaround comes along, I will simply work with it and set no default program. At least you offer a suggestion – the only good one I can find so far.
Best, Brian
Mark v R says
Eudora did not show up as an option when I went through these steps. Just the Microsoft mail program.
Richie Brereton says
Hi Mark, is it an older version of Eudora? If so that would explain why. I suggest downloading an up to date client like Thunderbird. Let me know how you go. Cheers, Richie