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[SOLVED] gmail default

Hi Alex,

Unfortunately there is no way to make Gmail your default email in Windows - Gmail is a service rather than an application you can set as your default.

Depending on how you want to set things up, however, there are a couple of options:
  • You can set your web browser to open up Gmail when you click on email address links
  • You can add your Gmail account to an email client (such as Thunderbird) and use that to send and receive emails
If you want to continue using Gmail's web interface, I recommend the first option. If not, go with the second option. Let me know which one is for you and I'll guide you through the process. :-)
 
To see how to set your browser as your default email, see: 5 Steps Set Gmail As Default Email Windows 7?

Having said that, I would be remiss if I failed to mention you really need to be looking to upgrade to Windows 10. Microsoft's official "mainstream" support for Windows 7 ended over 4 years ago, as seen by the Window Lifecycle Fact Sheet and all support ends this coming January.
 
AndroidOS said:
Hi Alex,

Unfortunately there is no way to make Gmail your default email in Windows - Gmail is a service rather than an application you can set as your default.

Depending on how you want to set things up, however, there are a couple of options:
  • You can set your web browser to open up Gmail when you click on email address links
  • You can add your Gmail account to an email client (such as Thunderbird) and use that to send and receive emails
If you want to continue using Gmail's web interface, I recommend the first option. If not, go with the second option. Let me know which one is for you and I'll guide you through the process. :-)
Click to expand...
I would like to accept your kind offer and go along with the first option please! Alex
 
Did as above but in the last steps I.e. clicking on a gray button in gmail----I can't find the button! Alex
 
You failed to mention what browser you are using. I did not go through default programs; I go through the browser, with the browser open and click on Tools/Preferences (PM) Tools/Options (FF). There is nothing to click in gmail.

Here's what Palemoon looks like when mailto is set to gmail.
PM_mailto.jpg

Here's what FF looks like.
FF_mailto.jpg
 
Hi Alex,

Please try the following steps:

  • In Chrome, click the three dots at the top right (near the address bar), then click Settings
  • Scroll all the way down and click on Advanced
  • Now click on Site settings
  • Click on Handlers
  • Ensure that it says "Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols (recommended)"
  • If it does not say this, click on the little switch to the right of the page

Now, navigate to mail.google.com. You should be asked if you want to allow mail.google.com to open email links. Click Allow.
 
when I go to mail.google.com my gmail account comes up with all my incoming emails. No questions about 'being asked to allow mail etc' Puzzling Alex
 
Do you not see a little window in the top-left? It should look a little like this:

47316

If not try the following:

  • In Chrome, click the three dots at the top right (near the address bar), then click Settings
  • Scroll all the way down and click on Advanced
  • Now click on Site settings
  • Click on Handlers
  • Ensure that it says "Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols (recommended)"
  • Click the little switch to the right, so it now says "Do not allow any sites to handle protocols"
  • Click the little switch to the right again, so it should now say "Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols (recommended)"

Try going to mail.google.com again. Do you get the popup above now?
 
Sorry,I've been away for a spell, Yes I got the pop-up and clicked 'allow' and I see now that in 'Handlers' mail.google.com is now Default. Thats OK i take it.,but now if I go to one of my downloaded articles and try to email it, the computer says there is no default email set up!
 
if I go to one of my downloaded articles and try to email it
Click to expand...
That's not how emailing an article works.
If you want to email something on your computer, you need to do this:
1. Open your browser.
2. Go to the gmail website.
3. Start an email to the person(s) you want to send a file to.
4. Attach the file to the email message. Or send a link to the Page where you downloaded something. I prefer that option rather than emailing someone a page or several pages that are on the internet.
 
You will NEVER be able to set it as a default under Default programs listed in Windows 7 because as posted in #2, gmail is NOT a Windows program and doesn't reside on your computer.

The best you can do is the steps outlined in #3 and #12 to use it in a browser as the default for mail to.
 
With the help of a friend I installed 'thunderbird' and with a few touches here and there we managed to do what I wanted! Thank you guys!
 

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