Where to Find the Default Mail App Setting

Your Mac's default mail app is the one that opens when you click an email link on a website or in another program. To change it, you need to go to System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs), then find the General section. From there, you'll see a "Default mail app" dropdown where you can pick whichever mail program you want to use instead.

The exact path depends on which version of macOS you're running. On macOS Ventura and newer, open System Settings from your Applications folder or the Apple menu, click General in the left sidebar, scroll down to the Default apps section, and look for Default mail app. On older versions (Big Sur and earlier), the setting lives in System Preferences under General as well, but it's labeled "Default email reader" instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs) and navigate to the General section to find the default mail app setting.
  • The dropdown will only show mail apps that are installed on your Mac, so you must install a third-party mail client before you can set it as default.
  • Changing the default mail app does not move your existing emails or accounts—it only changes which program opens when you click email links.
  • If your preferred mail app does not appear in the dropdown, restart your Mac or reinstall the app, as the system sometimes needs to refresh its list of installed programs.

Step-by-Step Instructions for macOS Ventura and Newer

Start by clicking the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. The System Settings window will open. On the left side, you'll see a sidebar with different categories. Click General to expand that section.

Scroll down until you see a section labeled "Default apps." In that section, look for the row that says "Mail" with a dropdown menu next to it. Click the dropdown to see all the mail apps currently installed on your Mac. Select the one you want to use as your default, and the change takes effect when ready—you don't need to restart or confirm anything.

Step-by-Step Instructions for macOS Big Sur and Earlier

Open System Preferences by clicking the Apple menu and selecting System Preferences. In the window that opens, look for the General icon (it usually shows a gray and white design) and click it. You should see a dropdown labeled "Default email reader" near the top of the window.

Click that dropdown to see your installed mail apps. Choose the one you want, and the change is saved right away. Close System Preferences when you're done. The next time you click an email link anywhere on your Mac, it will open in your newly selected mail app.

What Happens If Your Mail App Doesn't Appear in the Dropdown

If the mail app you want to use isn't showing up in the dropdown list, the most common reason is that it's not fully installed yet. Make sure you've downloaded and installed the app from the App Store, the developer's website, or wherever you got it. straightforward having the installer file on your computer isn't enough—the app needs to be in your Applications folder.

If you've already installed the app and it still doesn't show up, try restarting your Mac. The system sometimes doesn't when ready recognize newly installed programs. After restart, go back to System Settings and check the dropdown again. If the app still doesn't appear, try uninstalling it completely (including any leftover files) and reinstalling it fresh.

Common Mail Apps You Can Set as Default

Apple Mail comes built into every Mac and is the default choice for most users. If you want something different, popular alternatives include Gmail (through a web browser, though this won't work for email links), Outlook, Thunderbird, Spark, and Hey. Each of these can be downloaded and installed, then set as your default through System Settings.

Keep in mind that setting a mail app as default only controls what opens when you click an email link. It doesn't automatically move your existing email accounts or messages from one app to another. If you switch to a new mail app, you'll need to add your email accounts to it separately, and your old emails will stay in whatever app you were using before.

What Changing the Default Mail App Does and Doesn't Do

Changing your default mail app changes only one thing: which program launches when you click a mailto link (an email link) on a website or in another process. It does not move your email accounts, does not transfer your existing messages, and does not change which app opens when you double-click an email file on your desktop.

Your old mail app will still work exactly as before. All your accounts and messages stay where they are. If you want to use a new mail app for your daily email, you'll need to add your email accounts to it manually. This usually means going into that app's settings, entering your email address and password, and letting it read your messages—a process that can take anywhere from a few minutes to several hours depending on how many emails you have.

Troubleshooting: The Default Mail App Keeps Reverting

Occasionally, after you set a new default mail app, your Mac reverts to Apple Mail or your previous choice. This usually happens because the mail app you selected doesn't fully support being set as default, or because it was uninstalled or moved after you set it. Check that the app is still in your Applications folder and hasn't been moved or deleted.

If the app is still there, try opening it once to make sure it's working properly, then go back to System Settings and set it as default again. If it keeps reverting, the app itself may have a bug or compatibility issue. In that case, check the app developer's website or support page to see if there's a known issue or an update that fixes the problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing my default mail app move my emails to the new app?

No. Changing the default mail app only controls which program opens when you click an email link. Your existing emails stay in whatever app you were using before. To use a new mail app for your email, you need to add your accounts to it separately.

Can I set a web-based email service like Gmail as my default mail app?

Not directly. Gmail is a website, not an app, so it won't appear in the default mail app dropdown. However, you can install the Gmail app from the App Store and set that as your default instead. When you click an email link, it will open Gmail in the app rather than your browser.

What if I change my mind and want to switch back to Apple Mail?

Go back to System Settings, find the default mail app dropdown, and select Apple Mail. The change takes effect when ready. Apple Mail is always available as an option, even if you've been using something else.

Do I need to restart my Mac after changing the default mail app?

No. The change takes effect right away. You can test it by clicking an email link on a website, and your newly selected mail app should open.

Why does my mail app ask me to set it as default every time I open it?

Some mail apps show a notification asking if you want to set them as default. You can usually dismiss this by clicking "Not Now" or a similar button. If you want to stop seeing the message, go to System Settings and officially set that app as your default, then the notification should stop appearing.