How to Change Default Mail Client for Internet Explorer

Last reviewed: January 16, 1998
Article ID: Q154359

The information in this article applies to:

Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02, 4.0 for Windows 95
Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 3.0, 3.01, 3.02a, 4.0 for Windows 3.1

SUMMARY

This article describes how to change the default mail client for Internet Explorer.

MORE INFORMATION

Changing the Default Mail Client

To change the default mail client in Internet Explorer, follow these steps:

Internet Explorer 4.0:

Start Internet Explorer.
On the View menu, click Internet Options.
Click the Programs tab.
In the Mail box and in the News box, click the program you want.
Click OK.

Internet Explorer 3.0:

Start Internet Explorer.
On the View menu, click Options.
Click the Programs tab.
In the Mail box in the Mail And News area, click the program you want.
Click Apply, and then click OK.

Registered File Types That Are Modified When You Change

the Default Mail Client

In Internet Explorer, these changes modify the URL:MailToProtocol registered file type that is listed when you follow these steps:

Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0:

In My Computer, click Folder Options on the View menu, and then click File Types.
Click the URL:MailToProtocol line to select it, click Edit, click Open in the Actions box, and then click Edit. The command line that controls the program that is used to open a MailTo Uniform Resource Locator (URL) appears in the "Application used to perform action" box.

Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 3.1:

In Internet Explorer, click View, click Internet Options, click the Programs tab, and then click File Types.
Click the URL:MailToProtocol line to select it, click Edit, click Open in the Actions box, and then click Edit. The command line that controls the program that is used to open a MailTo Uniform Resource Locator (URL) appears in the "Application used to perform action" box.

Internet Explorer 3.0:

In Internet Explorer, click Options on the View menu, click the Programs tab, and then click File Types.
Click the URL:MailToProtocol line to select it, click Edit, click Open in the Actions box, and then click Edit. The command line that controls the program that is used to open a MailTo Uniform Resource Locator (URL) appears in the "Application used to perform action" box.

Some programs may modify this setting without updating the list of programs available in Internet Explorer options for this function. For example, the Eudora Internet mail client changes the URL:MailToProtcol registered file type to the following:

   C:\<EudoraFolder>\EUDORA.EXE /m

For additional information about behavior that occurs in Internet Explorer when Eudora is installed, please see the following article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

   ARTICLE-ID: Q149617
   TITLE     : Eudora Changes Default MailTo Handler

You can also change the default program back to Internet Mail or Windows Messaging in the Mail box on the Programs tab.

Selecting Internet Mail in the Mail box changes the URL:MailToProtcol registered file type to:

   rundll32.exe C:\WINDOWS\SYSTEM\mailnews.dll,Mail_RunDLL

Selecting Windows Messaging in the Mail box changes the registered file type to:

   rundll32.exe url.dll,MailToProtocolHandler %l

Specifying Microsoft Outlook as the Default Mail Client

To specify Microsoft Outlook 97 as the program you want to open MailTo URL addresses, use the following steps:

Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0:

In My Computer, click Folder Options on the View menu, and then click File Types.
Click the URL:MailToProtocol line to select it, click Edit, click Open in the Actions box, and then click Edit. Click the "Application used to perform action" box and press DELETE to delete the data in the box.
Type the following single line for the "Application used to perform action" box for the Open command:
```
      "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OUTLOOK.EXE" -c IPM.Note /m
      "%1"
```
NOTE: Type the quotation marks in the box.
To save the changes, click OK until you return to My Computer.

Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 3.1:

In Internet Explorer, click View, click Internet Options, click the Programs tab, and then click File Types.
Click the URL:MailToProtocol line to select it, click Edit, click Open in the Actions box, and then click Edit. Click the "Application used to perform action" box and press DELETE to delete the data in the box.
Type the following single line for the "Application used to perform action" box for the Open command:
```
      "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OUTLOOK.EXE" -c IPM.Note /m
      "%1"
```
NOTE: Type the quotation marks in the box.
To save the changes, click OK until you return to My Computer.

Internet Explorer 3.0:

In Internet Explorer, click Options on the View menu, click the Programs tab, and then click File Types.
Click the URL:MailToProtocol line to select it, click Edit, click Open in the Actions box, and then click Edit. Click the "Application used to perform action" box and press DELETE to delete the data in the box.

Type the following single line for the "Application used to perform action" box for the Open command:

      "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office\OUTLOOK.EXE" -c IPM.Note
         /m "%1"

   NOTE: Type the quotation marks in the box.

To save the changes, click OK until you return to Internet Explorer.

Specifying Microsoft Outlook Express as the Default Mail Client

To specify Microsoft Outlook Express as the program you want to open MailTo URL addresses, use the following steps:

Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 95 and Windows NT 4.0:

In My Computer, click Folder Options on the View menu, and then click File Types.
Click the URL:MailToProtocol line to select it, click Edit, click Open in the Actions box, and then click Edit. Click the "Application used to perform action" box and press DELETE to delete the data in the box.
Type the following single line for the "Application used to perform action" box for the Open command:
```
      "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\Msimn.exe" /mailurl:%1"
```
NOTE: Type the quotation marks in the box.
To save the changes, click OK until you return to My Computer.

Internet Explorer 4.0 for Windows 3.1:

In Internet Explorer, click View, click Internet Options, click the Programs tab, and then click File Types.
Click the URL:MailToProtocol line to select it, click Edit, click Open in the Actions box, and then click Edit. Click the "Application used to perform action" box and press DELETE to delete the data in the box.
Type the following single line for the "Application used to perform action" box for the Open command:
```
      "C:\Program Files\Outlook Express\Msimn.exe" /mailurl:%1"
```
NOTE: Type the quotation marks in the box.
To save the changes, click OK until you return to My Computer.

Specifying Older Mail Programs

The list of mail programs that you can choose under the Internet Explorer options is made up of registry keys that outline the behavior of the program you want to use. The program should be written to add itself to the registry. If you are using an older mail program, you may want to contact the program's manufacturer to determine how to make it the default mail program.

Modifications that need to be made to the registry are detailed and very specific. Many programs either self-register upon usage, or have an option to become the default program. If these options are not available, please contact the manufacturer about how to make their program the default mail client.

Additional query words: 3.00 4.00
Keywords : msiew31 msiew95 win95 kbhowto
Version : 3.0 3.01 3.02 3.02a 4.0
Platform : WINDOWS
Issue type : kbhowto

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Last reviewed: January 16, 1998
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