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Change the program used to open email links
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Firefox normally uses your operating system's default mail program to send an e-mail message. This article explains how you can change the program that is launched when you click on
* '''Send link...''' from the {menu File} menu
* '''Send link...''' from the context ({for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}{key Ctrl}+click{/for}) menu in Firefox
* A "mailto" or e-mail link on a web page (e.g., '''examples@examples.net''')
Firefox normally uses your operating system's default mail program to send an e-mail message. This article explains how you can change the program that is launched when you click on an e-mail link on a webpage or use the "Send link" feature.
Content:
Firefox normally uses your operating system's default mail program to send an e-mail message. This article explains how you can change the program that is launched when you click on
* '''Send link...''' from the {menu File} menu
* '''Send link...''' from the context ({for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}{key Ctrl}+click{/for}) menu in Firefox
* A "mailto" or e-mail link on a web page (e.g., '''examples@examples.net''')
__TOC__
= Setting Firefox's mail client =
# [[T:optionspreferences]]
# Select the {menu Applications} panel.
# Search for the Content-type: '''mailto''' and select it.
# Click on the Actions column in the mailto row, to change the action.{for win} <br/> <br/> [[Image:e0d4ba68922cf4e2876c9a8259bad6c8-1248570309-275-1.PNG]]
<br/>{/for}{for mac} <br/> <br/> [[Image:changemail-en-options-mac.jpg]] <br/>{/for}
** '''Always ask''' will prompt you each time you use a mail function for which program or service to use.
** '''Use <nowiki><Program></nowiki> (default)''' will automatically launch your operating system's e-mail program (e.g. Thunderbird, Outlook, Entourage, Evolution) to its message composition window. For instructions on how to change your operating system's default e-mail program, see the [[#Setting your operating system's default mail program|next section]] of this article.
** '''Use <nowiki><Webmail></nowiki>''' will open your webmail service's (e.g. Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, Hotmail) message composition page inside Firefox. For more information about using webmail services, see the [[#Using webmail services|Using webmail services]] section of this article.
** '''Use other...''' will let you specify an external program for Firefox to launch.
** '''Application Details...''' will let you view information about or remove the webmail services that Firefox can use.
# [[T:closeoptionspreferences]]
= Setting your operating system's default mail program =
By default, Firefox will use your system's default mail client to send e-mail for the actions listed above. To change the default mail client using your operating system, follow the instructions below.
{for win}
=== Windows Vista ===
# Click the Start button, then click the '''Default Programs''' item.
# Click on the '''Set Program Access and Computer Defaults''' item.
# In the Access and Defaults window, click on the '''Custom''' radio button to expand the Custom category.
# Underneath '''Choose a default e-mail program''', click the radio button next to the program you want to use (e.g. Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora).
# Click {button OK} at the bottom of the window.
=== Windows XP ===
# Click the Start button, then click on the Control Panel icon to open the Windows Control Panel.
# Click the '''Add or Remove Programs''' icon to open the Add or Remove Programs applet.
# On the left side of the Window click the '''Set Program Access and Defaults''' icon.
# In the Access and Defaults window, click on the '''Custom''' radio button to expand the Custom category.
# Underneath '''Choose a default e-mail program''', click the radio button next to the program you want to use (e.g. Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora).
# Click {button OK} at the bottom of the window.
{/for}
{for mac}
# Open the '''Mail''' application from the Applications folder.
# Click on the {menu Mail} menu and select {menu Preferences}.
# Click {button General} button.
# Select a new default mail program (e.g. Thunderbird, Entourage).
{/for}
{for linux}
;:{note}'''Note: These instructions are for some common Linux distributions. Your distribution may use a different interface.'''{/note}
=== Gnome ===
Distributions that use the Gnome Desktop Environment by default include Ubuntu, openSUSE, Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and more.
# Open the Preferred Applications window. The Preferred Applications window can be opened by:
** '''(Ubuntu)''' Clicking on the {menu System} menu, selecting {menu Preferences}, and then selecting {menu Preferred Applications}.
** Clicking on the {menu Applications} menu, selecting {menu Desktop Preferences}, then selecting {menu Advanced}, and then selecting {menu Preferred Applications}.
# Underneath '''Mail Reader''', use the dropdown menu to select a mail application (e.g. Evolution, Thunderbird).
# Click {button Close} to close the Preferred Applications window.
=== KDE ===
Distributions that use the K Desktop Environment by default include Kubuntu, Mandriva Linux, PCLinuxOS, and more.
# Open the KDE Control Center by clicking on {button K} and selecting {menu Control Center}.
# In the Control Center window, click to expand '''KDE Components'''.
# Click to select '''Component Chooser'''.
# Click to select '''Email Client'''.
# Click to select the '''Use a different email client''' radio button.
# Type the full path to your e-mail client (e.g. {filepath /usr/bin/thunderbird}).
# Click {button Apply} to close the Control Center window and save your changes.
{/for}
= Using webmail services =
Firefox allows webmail services (such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, etc.) to enable you to use them for Firefox's mail functions. Use the instructions in the [[#Setting Firefox's mail client|Setting Firefox's mail client]] section above to use a webmail service with this method.
{for fx3}
;:{note}'''Note: Firefox 3.0 includes only Yahoo! Mail support by default. You may add other services when they add support for this Firefox 3 feature.'''{/note}
{/for}
{for fx35}
;:{note}'''Note: Firefox 3.5 and Firefox 3.6 include only Gmail and Yahoo! Mail support by default. You may add other services when they add support for this Firefox feature.'''{/note}
{/for}
If the webmail service you want to use is not available in the Applications panel of the Options window, you can use an extension to add support to your webmail services:
* This [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search?q=mailto Addons.Mozilla.org search for ''mailto''] lists several extensions that may be suitable for different webmail services.
<!--
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5991 Mail2:Webmail] supports various webmail services. You may need to create an account at the Firefox Add-ons site to install this extension.
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/206 Webmail Compose] supports various webmail services. You may need to create an account at the Firefox Add-ons site to install this extension.
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6354 MailFrom] supports various webmail services. You may need to create an account at the Firefox Add-ons site to install this extension.
-->
<!-- Credits -->
<br/> <br/>
'''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Default_mail_client Default mail client (mozillaZine KB)], [http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1637 How to change the default web browser or email application (Apple.com Support)], [http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kdebase-runtime/userguide/control-center.html The KDE Control Center (KDE.org)], and [http://www.debianadmin.com/select-preferred-applications-in-ubuntu.html Select Preferred Applications in Ubuntu (DebianAdmin.com)].'''''
Firefox normally uses your operating system's default mail program to send an e-mail message. This article explains how you can change the program that is launched when you click on
* '''Send link...''' from the {menu File} menu
* '''Send link...''' from the context ({for win,linux}right-click{/for}{for mac}{key Ctrl}+click{/for}) menu in Firefox
* A "mailto" or e-mail link on a web page (e.g., '''examples@examples.net''')
__TOC__
= Setting Firefox's mail client =
# [[T:optionspreferences]]
# Select the {menu Applications} panel.
# Search for the Content-type: '''mailto''' and select it.
# Click on the Actions column in the mailto row, to change the action.{for win} <br/> <br/> [[Image:e0d4ba68922cf4e2876c9a8259bad6c8-1248570309-275-1.PNG]]
<br/>{/for}{for mac} <br/> <br/> [[Image:changemail-en-options-mac.jpg]] <br/>{/for}
** '''Always ask''' will prompt you each time you use a mail function for which program or service to use.
** '''Use <nowiki><Program></nowiki> (default)''' will automatically launch your operating system's e-mail program (e.g. Thunderbird, Outlook, Entourage, Evolution) to its message composition window. For instructions on how to change your operating system's default e-mail program, see the [[#Setting your operating system's default mail program|next section]] of this article.
** '''Use <nowiki><Webmail></nowiki>''' will open your webmail service's (e.g. Yahoo! Mail, Gmail, Hotmail) message composition page inside Firefox. For more information about using webmail services, see the [[#Using webmail services|Using webmail services]] section of this article.
** '''Use other...''' will let you specify an external program for Firefox to launch.
** '''Application Details...''' will let you view information about or remove the webmail services that Firefox can use.
# [[T:closeoptionspreferences]]
= Setting your operating system's default mail program =
By default, Firefox will use your system's default mail client to send e-mail for the actions listed above. To change the default mail client using your operating system, follow the instructions below.
{for win}
=== Windows Vista ===
# Click the Start button, then click the '''Default Programs''' item.
# Click on the '''Set Program Access and Computer Defaults''' item.
# In the Access and Defaults window, click on the '''Custom''' radio button to expand the Custom category.
# Underneath '''Choose a default e-mail program''', click the radio button next to the program you want to use (e.g. Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora).
# Click {button OK} at the bottom of the window.
=== Windows XP ===
# Click the Start button, then click on the Control Panel icon to open the Windows Control Panel.
# Click the '''Add or Remove Programs''' icon to open the Add or Remove Programs applet.
# On the left side of the Window click the '''Set Program Access and Defaults''' icon.
# In the Access and Defaults window, click on the '''Custom''' radio button to expand the Custom category.
# Underneath '''Choose a default e-mail program''', click the radio button next to the program you want to use (e.g. Outlook, Thunderbird, Eudora).
# Click {button OK} at the bottom of the window.
{/for}
{for mac}
# Open the '''Mail''' application from the Applications folder.
# Click on the {menu Mail} menu and select {menu Preferences}.
# Click {button General} button.
# Select a new default mail program (e.g. Thunderbird, Entourage).
{/for}
{for linux}
;:{note}'''Note: These instructions are for some common Linux distributions. Your distribution may use a different interface.'''{/note}
=== Gnome ===
Distributions that use the Gnome Desktop Environment by default include Ubuntu, openSUSE, Fedora, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, and more.
# Open the Preferred Applications window. The Preferred Applications window can be opened by:
** '''(Ubuntu)''' Clicking on the {menu System} menu, selecting {menu Preferences}, and then selecting {menu Preferred Applications}.
** Clicking on the {menu Applications} menu, selecting {menu Desktop Preferences}, then selecting {menu Advanced}, and then selecting {menu Preferred Applications}.
# Underneath '''Mail Reader''', use the dropdown menu to select a mail application (e.g. Evolution, Thunderbird).
# Click {button Close} to close the Preferred Applications window.
=== KDE ===
Distributions that use the K Desktop Environment by default include Kubuntu, Mandriva Linux, PCLinuxOS, and more.
# Open the KDE Control Center by clicking on {button K} and selecting {menu Control Center}.
# In the Control Center window, click to expand '''KDE Components'''.
# Click to select '''Component Chooser'''.
# Click to select '''Email Client'''.
# Click to select the '''Use a different email client''' radio button.
# Type the full path to your e-mail client (e.g. {filepath /usr/bin/thunderbird}).
# Click {button Apply} to close the Control Center window and save your changes.
{/for}
= Using webmail services =
Firefox allows webmail services (such as Gmail, Yahoo! Mail, Hotmail, etc.) to enable you to use them for Firefox's mail functions. Use the instructions in the [[#Setting Firefox's mail client|Setting Firefox's mail client]] section above to use a webmail service with this method.
{for fx3}
;:{note}'''Note: Firefox 3.0 includes only Yahoo! Mail support by default. You may add other services when they add support for this Firefox 3 feature.'''{/note}
{/for}
{for fx35}
;:{note}'''Note: Firefox 3.5 and Firefox 3.6 include only Gmail and Yahoo! Mail support by default. You may add other services when they add support for this Firefox feature.'''{/note}
{/for}
If the webmail service you want to use is not available in the Applications panel of the Options window, you can use an extension to add support to your webmail services:
* This [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/search?q=mailto Addons.Mozilla.org search for ''mailto''] lists several extensions that may be suitable for different webmail services.
<!--
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/5991 Mail2:Webmail] supports various webmail services. You may need to create an account at the Firefox Add-ons site to install this extension.
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/206 Webmail Compose] supports various webmail services. You may need to create an account at the Firefox Add-ons site to install this extension.
* [https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/6354 MailFrom] supports various webmail services. You may need to create an account at the Firefox Add-ons site to install this extension.
-->
<!-- Credits -->
<br/> <br/>
'''''Based on information from [http://kb.mozillazine.org/Default_mail_client Default mail client (mozillaZine KB)], [http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1637 How to change the default web browser or email application (Apple.com Support)], [http://docs.kde.org/stable/en/kdebase-runtime/userguide/control-center.html The KDE Control Center (KDE.org)], and [http://www.debianadmin.com/select-preferred-applications-in-ubuntu.html Select Preferred Applications in Ubuntu (DebianAdmin.com)].'''''