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Make mailto: links open in gmail in Google Chrome browser (Windows XP only)

I’ve been rocking Google’s new web browser Chrome for the last few days and really like it. Browsing craigslist and clicking on email mailto: links I realized there isn’t an obvious way to force these links to open a gmail window in Chrome. Most Windows systems will have the default mailto handler set as Outlook Express.

One option is to install the gmail notifier program. I opted instead for a quick change to the Windows XP filetype settings.

Note that following these instructions will cause all mailto links to open in Google Chrome, even if you are browsing in Firefox, Safari or (gasp) Internet Explorer so make sure you want to use google Chrome as your primary browser before continuing.

In any windows explorer window (except desktop):
* Go to Tools > Folder Options > File Types
* Near the top of the list of filetypes, click on “URL:Mailto Protocol”
* Click on “Advanced”
* With “open” highlighted, click on “Edit”
* Change the application to: 

"\path\to\chrome\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe"
-app=https://mail.google.com/mail?extsrc=mailto&url=%1

This should all be on one line with no spaces at all. My path was “C:\Documents and Settings\default\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe” To find yours, just right click on a google Chome shortcut (like the one in your start menu), go to “properties” and copy the “Target” field.

This entry was posted on Thursday, September 4th, 2008    Trackback

12 Responses to “Make mailto: links open in gmail in Google Chrome browser (Windows XP only)”

  1. peter

    September 5th, 2008 at 5:03 am

    you can simply use sohial’s gmail notifier for Google Apps
    http://gmailnotifier.net

  2. GMail Chrome Combination Rocks « Pubdomains - Domain Registration * Web Hosting * SSL Certificates http://pubdomains.wordpress.com/2008/09/05/gmail-chrome-combination-rocks/

    September 5th, 2008 at 12:27 pm

    [...] Make mailto: links open in gmail in Google Chrome browser (Windows … 4 Sep 2008 … Make mailto: links open in gmail in Google Chrome browser (Windows XP only). I’ve been rocking Google’s new web browser Chrome for the last … http://www.bnee.com/2008/09/make-mailto-links-open-in-gmail-in-google-chrome-browser-windows-xp-only/ - 17k - 13 hours ago [...]

  3. Jon

    September 10th, 2008 at 9:35 am

    I still like to use firefox 3 because its perfectly customized with extensions, but chrome blows it away speed-wise, especially with gmail. I’d like to have firefox mailto links open up a new chrome window.. but i can’t find the “URL:mailto protocol” file type. Any suggestions?? Hope I can get this great tip working for me

  4. Brendan Nee http://www.bnee.com

    September 10th, 2008 at 8:35 pm

    “URL:mailto protocol” is near the top of the list where extension is (None). On my system, it is 14th from the top.

  5. qwertyphd

    September 19th, 2008 at 4:12 am

    Thanks for the simple instructions. However, after I made the changes you suggested and clicked on a mailto: link, Chrome took me to the page: http://xn--app%3Dhttps-p89d//mail.google.com/mail?extsrc=mailto&url=mailto:astark1@unl.edu. I don’t understand where all the extra characters came from. Any idea how to fix this?

    Thanks!

  6. Steve

    September 30th, 2008 at 3:46 am

    Awesome! Worked like a charm. I’m trying to keep my system free of unnecessary apps and was missing this feature. Thanks again!

  7. sunyi

    October 3rd, 2008 at 7:13 pm

    I’ve found another programme to open Google Chrome’s mailto: links in Gmail: you can try it here: http://skaelede.hu/?e=chromemailer&lg=en

  8. ds

    October 15th, 2008 at 11:02 pm

    you should mention that there is NO blank in front of the “app”..

  9. rB

    November 10th, 2008 at 2:02 am

    I cant get this to work. Currently I have the following in the Application used to perform this action blank:
    “C:\Documents and Settings\Owner\Local Settings\Application Data\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe” -app=https://mail.google.com/mail?extsrc=mailto&url=%1

    I’m getting errors in chrome, does this need to be placed in some other blank?

  10. rB

    November 10th, 2008 at 2:14 am

    Ahh I got it to work, thanks for sharing! But is there a way to make it open a new tab rather than a new window?

  11. Mike http://michaelcaruso.net

    November 13th, 2008 at 4:22 am

    @qwertyphd I had the same error, try changing the hyphen before “app” to a regular dash (as in between the “0″ and “=”) and make sure there is only one space after the chrome.exe location

  12. qwertyphd

    November 13th, 2008 at 4:41 am

    Thanks Mike! It’s working now :)

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