Mac OS X - Setting the Default Mail Program

This document explains how to set the default mail program in Mac OS X.

The default mail program is the software that is registered with your operating system to handle mailto URL's. When another application wants to send an email, it looks up the default and passes the email to the default mail program.

Use the following steps to change the default mail program in Mac OS X:

  1. Open the Mail application from the Applications folder.

  2. Click on the Mail menu and select Preferences...

    The dropdown Mail menu with the second option, Preferences, emphasized.

  3. Click the General button. If you don't see the General button, click on the small oval in the upper right corner to reveal it.

  4. Select a new default mail program from the Default Email Reader menu (e.g. Thunderbird, Entourage).

    General menu in the top left in selected with the Default Email Reader dropdown at the top of the page emphasized.



Keywords:
mac os x osx setting default mail program eudora mail mail.app thunderbird entourage eudoradisclaimer 
Doc ID:
12341
Owned by:
Help Desk KB Team in DoIT Help Desk
Created:
2009-09-30
Updated:
2026-06-11
Sites:
DoIT Help Desk