Fix Email Links Opening in Blank Browser Instead of Outlook or Gmail – Complete Guide

Clicking an email link and getting a blank browser tab instead of your preferred app (Outlook or Gmail) is frustrating. This usually happens due to incorrect default app settings or protocol handler issues. Here’s how to fix it.

Step 1: Set Default App for MAILTO Links (Windows)

1. Press Windows + I → Settings.
2. Navigate to Apps → Default Apps.
3. Scroll down and click Choose defaults by link type.
4. Search for MAILTO.
5. Select Outlook (or your preferred email app).

        

        

Step 2: Enable Gmail as Default in Chrome

1. Open Chrome → Settings → Privacy and Security → Site Settings.
2. Scroll to Protocol Handlers.
3. Enable Sites can ask to handle protocols.
4. Open Gmail → Click the handler icon in the address bar → Allow Gmail to open email links.

       

Step 3: Make Outlook Default Inside Outlook

1. Open Outlook → File → Options → General.
2. Check Make Outlook the default program for Email.
3. In some versions of Outlook, the “Make Outlook the default program for Email” option is not shown under File → Options → General because Windows now manages default apps centrally. which I have ,so you can`t see that option in screenshot.

    

Step 4: Repair Office Installation

Go to Settings → Apps → Installed Apps, find Microsoft Office or Microsoft 365 apps / enterprise , click Modify, and choose Quick Repair or Online Repair.

Step 5: Re-register Outlook

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