Configuring the 'Mailto' Protocol for Gmail in Chrome

These instructions were tested using the Chrome browser version below.
07-19-2023 Chrome Version 115.0.5790.99 (Official Build) (64-bit)
"Mailto" is a Uniform Resource Identifier (URI) scheme used for email addresses. It allows websites and applications to create email links that automatically open your preferred email client. If you use Gmail, the "mailto" URI will not work by default and must first be configured to use Gmail. OA Mobile, like many applications and websites, uses the "mailto" URI to send email through your preferred email client. If the "mailto" URI is not configured correctly, OA Mobile will not be able to open your preferred email application when sending email. Please follow Steps A - D below to complete the configuration.

When you configure Gmail to use the "mailto" URI, you are instructing applications and websites to open email links using your Gmail account. Before proceeding, log out of any Gmail accounts currently open in Chrome, then completely close the Google Chrome browser (do not simply minimize it). The "mailto" URI can only reliably work with one active Gmail account at a time. If multiple Google or Gmail accounts are signed in simultaneously, the "mailto" URI may not function correctly or may behave unpredictably.
  1. Open Chrome and select the three vertical dots located in the upper-right corner of the browser window.
  2. From the dropdown menu, select |Settings|.
  3. Select the three horizontal lines icon to open the Chrome settings sections (this step may be skipped if your browser window is maximized).
  4. From the menu on the left, select |Privacy and Security|.
  5. From the |Privacy and Security| section, select |Site Settings|.
  6. From the |Permissions| section, select |Additional Permissions|.
  7. From the |Additional Permissions| section, select |Protocol Handlers|.
  8. In the |Protocol Handlers| section, ensure that "Sites can ask to handle protocols" is enabled. If any sites are already listed below the default behavior section, remove them. Close the Chrome browser when finished.
Configure Gmail Mailto

Windows 11

  1. From Windows 11, select the |Start| menu.
  2. Search for "Default apps".
  3. Select |Default apps|.
  4. From the |Default apps| section, select |Google Chrome|.
  5. From the |Google Chrome| section, select the |MAILTO| setting to open the list of applications.
  6. From the "Select a default app for MAILTO links" section, select |Google Chrome|.
  7. Select the |Set Default| button.
Configure Windows 11 Global Mailto Settings

  1. Open your Gmail account and select the "Double Black Diamond" icon located to the right of the address bar.
  2. Select |Allow|.
  3. Select |Done|.
Set Gmail Mailto Permissions

Click the Test Mailto Settings link. If your "mailto" settings are configured correctly, the link should open a new email message within your Gmail account.
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