This article is a tutorial on how to set up your browser settings to open mailto links with your SOU email.

Mailto links instruct your computer to compose an email to a specified recipient. (For example, helpdesk@sou.edu.) This article will direct you to be able to open mailto links in Chrome, Firefox, and Edge with your SOU email. With most browsers you can sign into the browser to connect your settings with your account; however, it will only transfer to other machines if you apply a sync setting to your browser.

How to open mailto links by default with Chrome

• Go into Chrome Settings

  • To get there select the kebab menu and then the drop down shall have a Settings option

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• Select the Privacy and security option on the left

  • Click on Site settings

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• Find and select Additional permissions

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• The next option to select is the Protocol handlers option

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• Ensure that the Sites can ask to handle protocols option is selected

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• Now try to open a mailto link such as this one helpdesk@sou.edu

• Next navigate to your SOU email which you can get to through this link

  • There shall be a symbol that looks like intersecting diamonds (called the Protocol Handler icon) in the address bar to click

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  • Then it is suggested to select Allow and then Done

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• You may be prompted to select a default app after this is done, but that is not necessary

How to open mailto links by default with Edge

To begin we will want to ensure our settings will allow the mailto protocol to work

• First click on the kebab menu at the top right of the browser and then select Settings

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• On the left hand side there should be a menu. Select the option Cookies and site permissions

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There are two settings in the list of them that we need to address

• Click on Protocol handlers

  • Ensure that the option Allow sites to ask to become default handlers for protocols (recommended) is selected as in the picture

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• Click on Application links

  • Ensure that the option Automatically block or allow apps based on a list from Microsoft is NOT selected as in the picture

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• Now try to open a mailto link such as this one helpdesk@sou.edu

• Next navigate to your SOU email which you can get to through this link

• Find a symbol that looks like intersecting diamonds (called the Protocol Handler icon) in the address bar to click

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• After clicking it is then suggested that you select Allow and then Done

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How to open mailto links by default with Firefox 

• Click on a mailto link such as helpdesk@sou.edu

• Select Gmail as the application of choice

• Select Always use this application to open mailto links (optional)

• Click Open Link

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How to open mailto links by default with Safari 

Safari defaults to using a separate app called Mail to handle mailto links. This section will guide you through setting that up.

• First click upon a mailto link such as this one helpdesk@sou.edu and then select Allow

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• This should prompt MacOS to upen the Mail app. Select Google as the Mail account provider

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• Input your SOU email under Email or phone

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• Then input your SOU credentials

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• You will then have to give MacOS access to your Gmail account by selecting the Read, compose, send, and permanently delete all your email from Gmail option

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• Select the apps you want to use with your SOU account, which should be at least the Mail app

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• Then you have your system set up to open mailto links.

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