Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Mailto: not offering any choices, want to use gmail, always worked before help!

  • 2 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 3 views
  • Last reply by FTLOSM2

more options

I am using windows 7 64bit pro on a dell tower, gmail is my primary email and firefox 38.0.1 (up to date at time of writing this). I have had this setup working fine for a few years now but today I went to click on an email and it asked me what program to open.

I went online found this https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-program-used-open-email-links#w_setting-firefoxs-mail-client but when I went into options to reset my mailto: assignment it's blank I don't even see gmail (nothing actually just browse button), this confuses me because for the longest time it's just always worked, even moreso confusing to me is how to I re-assign gmail when I don't even know how since the field is blank (originally I remember the gmail logo being there during setup).

This will sound dumb but gmail isn't in my programs list right? Like a gmail.exe sort of thing since it's web based, so if firefox isn't giving me that gmail assignment option how to I fix it?

The thing that stumps me is how it's worked fine for years yet today just acts like it has no idea what to use to open an email link off a webpage.

Stumped on this one, anyone?

Bill

I am using windows 7 64bit pro on a dell tower, gmail is my primary email and firefox 38.0.1 (up to date at time of writing this). I have had this setup working fine for a few years now but today I went to click on an email and it asked me what program to open. I went online found this https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-program-used-open-email-links#w_setting-firefoxs-mail-client but when I went into options to reset my mailto: assignment it's blank I don't even see gmail (nothing actually just browse button), this confuses me because for the longest time it's just always worked, even moreso confusing to me is how to I re-assign gmail when I don't even know how since the field is blank (originally I remember the gmail logo being there during setup). This will sound dumb but gmail isn't in my programs list right? Like a gmail.exe sort of thing since it's web based, so if firefox isn't giving me that gmail assignment option how to I fix it? The thing that stumps me is how it's worked fine for years yet today just acts like it has no idea what to use to open an email link off a webpage. Stumped on this one, anyone? Bill

Chosen solution

hi, maybe the file in your profile folder that holds the filetype- & protocol associations got corrupted - please try the following: go to the firefox menu ≡ > help ? > troubleshooting information, click on profile folder/show folder and close all firefox windows afterwards. a windows explorer window should open up - in there delete the file named mimeTypes.rdf - it will be regenerated again the next time you launch the browser. then go to options > applications again and see if you can set gmail as default for mailto: links again...

Read this answer in context 👍 4

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

hi, maybe the file in your profile folder that holds the filetype- & protocol associations got corrupted - please try the following: go to the firefox menu ≡ > help ? > troubleshooting information, click on profile folder/show folder and close all firefox windows afterwards. a windows explorer window should open up - in there delete the file named mimeTypes.rdf - it will be regenerated again the next time you launch the browser. then go to options > applications again and see if you can set gmail as default for mailto: links again...

more options

Thank you it worked!