Choose where OpenVC should prepare your emails when you click Send email.
OpenVC does not connect to your inbox or send emails automatically. It simply opens a new email in your preferred email service, with the recipient, subject, and message already filled in.
You can review and edit the email before sending it.
You do not need to:
Enter your email password in OpenVC
Connect your inbox
Configure IMAP or SMTP
Install an extension
First, test your current setup
A new email should open with the subject “OpenVC email setup test.”
If it opens in the correct email service, your setup is complete. Close the test email without sending it.
If nothing happens, or the wrong email service opens, follow the instructions below.
Which email service do you use?
Choose where you normally write and send emails:
I normally send emails from... | Follow this section |
Gmail inside Google Chrome | Gmail with Chrome |
Gmail inside Microsoft Edge | Gmail with Edge |
Gmail inside Firefox | Gmail with Firefox |
Outlook inside my browser | Outlook on the web |
The Outlook application on Windows | Outlook on Windows |
The Outlook application on Mac | Outlook on Mac |
The Mail application on Mac | Apple Mail |
Thunderbird | Thunderbird |
Another installed email application | Another email application |
Gmail with Google Chrome
Follow these instructions if you normally send emails from Gmail inside Chrome.
Step 1: Allow Gmail to open email links
Open Google Chrome.
Go to Gmail.
Sign in to the Gmail account you want to use with OpenVC.
Look at the right side of Chrome’s address bar.
Click the small icon that looks like two overlapping diamonds.
Select Allow.
Click Done.
Chrome can then use Gmail for email links such as the ones opened by OpenVC.
Step 2: Test it
A Gmail compose window should open.
I cannot find the overlapping-diamonds icon
Copy this address:
chrome://settings/handlersPaste it into Chrome’s address bar.
Press Enter.
Select Sites can ask to handle protocols.
If Gmail appears under Not allowed to handle protocols, remove it.
Return to Gmail.
Refresh the page.
Look for the overlapping-diamonds icon again.
Click it and select Allow.
Gmail opens with the wrong Google account
OpenVC cannot choose between your Google accounts.
Open Gmail before using OpenVC.
Switch to the Gmail account you want to use.
Return to OpenVC and click Send email.
Check the From address before sending.
Gmail with Microsoft Edge
Follow these instructions if you normally use Gmail inside Microsoft Edge.
Step 1: Allow Gmail to open email links
Open Microsoft Edge.
Go to Gmail.
Sign in to the Gmail account you want to use.
Look at the right side of the address bar for the protocol-handler icon.
Click it.
Allow Gmail to open email links.
Return to OpenVC.
Step 2: Test it
The permission icon does not appear
Copy this address:
edge://settings/content/handlersPaste it into Edge’s address bar.
Press Enter.
Allow websites to ask to handle protocols.
Remove Gmail from the blocked list if it appears there.
Return to Gmail.
Refresh the page and try again.
Microsoft Edge uses the mailto protocol to determine which service should handle email links.
Gmail with Firefox
Follow these instructions if you normally use Gmail inside Firefox.
Open Firefox.
Click the menu button in the top-right corner.
Select Settings.
Open the General section.
Scroll to Files and Applications.
Find the Applications section.
Search for
mailto.Click the option beside mailto.
Select Use Gmail.
Close the Settings tab.
Firefox lets you select the service that handles mailto email links from its Applications settings.
Test it
Outlook on the web
Follow these instructions if you normally send emails from Outlook inside your browser.
This may include:
Outlook.com
Hotmail
Microsoft 365 Outlook
Your company’s Outlook webmail
Using Chrome or Edge
Open Chrome or Edge.
Sign in to the Outlook account you want to use.
Look for a message or icon asking whether Outlook can open email links.
Select Allow.
Return to OpenVC.
Test your setup below.
Outlook does not ask for permission
In Chrome:
Open
chrome://settings/handlersEnable Sites can ask to handle protocols.
Remove Outlook from the blocked list if necessary.
Reload Outlook.
In Edge:
Open
edge://settings/content/handlersAllow websites to ask to handle protocols.
Remove Outlook from the blocked list if necessary.
Reload Outlook.
Company-managed browsers may prevent users from changing protocol-handler settings. Microsoft provides administrators with policies that can control which websites handle mailto links.
Outlook on Windows
Follow these instructions if you use the Outlook application installed on your Windows computer.
Windows 11
Open the Windows Start menu.
Search for Default apps.
Open Default apps.
Search for Outlook.
Select the version of Outlook you normally use.
Find MAILTO in the list of link types.
Click the application currently assigned to it.
Select Outlook.
Click Set default.
Close Settings.
If both Outlook and Outlook (classic) appear, select the version you normally use.
Microsoft’s Windows 11 instructions allow users to assign Outlook to individual email link types, including MAILTO.
Windows 10
Open the Windows Start menu.
Open Settings.
Select Apps.
Select Default apps.
Find Email.
Click the application currently listed.
Select Outlook.
Close Settings.
Test it
Outlook on Mac
Follow these instructions if you use the Outlook application installed on your Mac.
Make sure Outlook is installed and you are signed in.
Open the Mail application on your Mac.
In the menu at the top of the screen, click Mail.
Select Settings.
Open the General tab.
Find Default email reader.
Select Microsoft Outlook.
Close the Settings window.
You need to open Apple Mail to change this Mac setting, even when you want Outlook to become the default email application.
Outlook is not listed
Open the Default email reader menu.
Select Choose or Select.
Open the Applications folder.
Select Microsoft Outlook.
Confirm your choice.
Test it
Apple Mail
Follow these instructions if you use the Mail application installed on your Mac.
Open the Mail application.
In the menu at the top of the screen, click Mail.
Select Settings.
Open the General tab.
Find Default email reader.
Select Mail.
Close the Settings window.
Test it
Thunderbird
Follow these instructions if you use Thunderbird on your computer.
On Windows
Open the Windows Start menu.
Search for Default apps.
Open Default apps.
Search for Thunderbird.
Select Thunderbird.
Find MAILTO.
Assign Thunderbird to it.
Click Set default.
Windows allows default applications to be assigned by protocol, including MAILTO.
On Mac
Open Apple’s Mail application.
Click Mail in the menu at the top of the screen.
Select Settings.
Open General.
Open the Default email reader menu.
Select Thunderbird.
If Thunderbird is not listed, select Choose and find it in your Applications folder.
Test it
Another email application
You can use another installed email application with OpenVC, including Spark, eM Client, Canary Mail, or another application that supports email links.
On Windows
Open Settings.
Select Apps.
Select Default apps.
Search for your email application.
Select it.
Assign the MAILTO link type to that application.
On Mac
Open Apple’s Mail application.
Select Mail > Settings.
Open General.
Find Default email reader.
Select your preferred application.
If it is not listed, select Choose and find it in the Applications folder.
Test it
Using Gmail or Outlook web with Safari
Safari normally follows the default email application selected on your Mac. It does not provide the same straightforward webmail-handler setup as Chrome or Firefox.
For the simplest setup, use one of these options:
Use Chrome with Gmail
Use Chrome or Edge with Outlook web
Set Apple Mail as your default email application
Set the installed Outlook application as your default email application
Apple notes that choosing a browser as the Mac’s default email reader does not necessarily make that browser open a particular webmail service.
Troubleshooting
Nothing happens when I click the test button
Try these steps:
Check whether your browser displayed a permission request near the address bar.
Make sure an email application or webmail service has been selected.
Restart your browser.
Click the test button again.
For Chrome, check: chrome://settings/handlers
For Edge, check: edge://settings/content/handlers
For Firefox, open Settings, search for mailto, and choose an action.
For Windows, open Settings > Apps > Default apps and check the application assigned to MAILTO.
For Mac, open Mail > Settings > General > Default email reader.
The wrong email service opens
Your browser or computer has remembered a previous choice.
Follow the relevant section above and change the service assigned to email links.
The correct service opens from the wrong email account
The sending account is controlled by Gmail, Outlook, Apple Mail, or your other email application. OpenVC cannot choose the sending account.
Before sending an email:
Check the From address.
Select the correct account if necessary.
Review the recipient, subject, and message.
Click Send.
My company controls my computer
Your company may prevent you from changing default applications or protocol-handler permissions.
Ask your IT administrator to allow your preferred email service to handle mailto links. Microsoft Edge, for example, supports administrator-controlled protocol-handler policies.
I am still stuck
Contact [email protected] and include:
Your operating system, such as Windows or Mac
Your browser, such as Chrome, Edge, Firefox, or Safari
The email service you want to use
What happens when you click the test button
A screenshot of any error or permission message