You can use Webmail as the default e-mail client in Chrome
If you prefer Gmail or some other Webmail to traditional e-mail services, you may add a few steps each time you want to contact someone through a Web page. Chrome features an extension that lets you use Webmail as its default when you click an e-mail link.
Rob Lightner
Rob Lightner is a tech and gaming writer based in Seattle. He has reviewed games, gadgets, and technical manuals, written copy for space travel gear, and composed horoscopes for cats.
If you grumble to yourself whenever you see an "E-mail me" link because you'd rather use Gmail (or Hotmail or some other Webmail service) than whatever your browser thinks you should use, you're in luck.
There's an easy way to get Chrome to fire up Webmail whenever you click a "mail-to:" link.
- Install the Mailto: extension.
- Once it's installed, the Options window should pop right up. You can select a Webmail service, add your own URL, or have the extension ask you what you want to do each time.
- When you've made your choice, close the window.
- You may need to restart your browser, but it worked for me right away.
- Now when you click on an e-mail link, Chrome should open a new message composition tab (or a pop-up selection window if you instructed it to ask you which service to use).
- If you want to change your mail-to: options, you'll need to open up the Options page and select it from the Extensions tab.
That's it! I tested it with Gmail, Hotmail, and Yahoo Mail, and it worked great for me.