This site will have limited functionality while we undergo maintenance to improve your experience. If an article doesn't solve your issue and you want to ask a question, we have our support community waiting to help you at @FirefoxSupport on Twitter and/r/firefox on Reddit.

Search Support

Avoid support scams. We will never ask you to call or text a phone number or share personal information. Please report suspicious activity using the “Report Abuse” option.

Learn More

Mailto not listed

  • 2 replies
  • 3 have this problem
  • 4 views
  • Last reply by boronms

more options

When trying to set Firefox's default mail client (Menu --> Options --> Applications --> Content Type) "mailto " is not a listed option. I'm not sure how to set this if it's not listed as an application or how to recreate it as a "content type." Any suggestions?

When trying to set Firefox's default mail client (Menu --> Options --> Applications --> Content Type) "mailto " is not a listed option. I'm not sure how to set this if it's not listed as an application or how to recreate it as a "content type." Any suggestions?

Chosen solution

That's strange, I think it should always be included in a new installation. If you are using the search box above the list, do you have any better luck if you just type ma instead of mailto?

If you have been running Firefox for a while, it's possible that the file which stores your Application preferences might have become corrupted. Because the file is difficult to edit, we generally suggest removing/renaming the file and having Firefox generate a fresh one. Here's how:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a separate window listing various files and folders.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename mimeTypes.rdf to something like mimeTypes.old

Start Firefox back up again. Does mailto return?

Read this answer in context 👍 2

All Replies (2)

more options

Chosen Solution

That's strange, I think it should always be included in a new installation. If you are using the search box above the list, do you have any better luck if you just type ma instead of mailto?

If you have been running Firefox for a while, it's possible that the file which stores your Application preferences might have become corrupted. Because the file is difficult to edit, we generally suggest removing/renaming the file and having Firefox generate a fresh one. Here's how:

Open your current Firefox settings (AKA Firefox profile) folder using either

  • "3-bar" menu button > "?" button > Troubleshooting Information
  • (menu bar) Help > Troubleshooting Information
  • type or paste about:support in the address bar and press Enter

In the first table on the page, click the "Show Folder" button. This should launch a separate window listing various files and folders.

Leaving that window open, switch back to Firefox and Exit, either:

  • "3-bar" menu button > "power" button
  • (menu bar) File > Exit

Pause while Firefox finishes its cleanup, then rename mimeTypes.rdf to something like mimeTypes.old

Start Firefox back up again. Does mailto return?

more options

That worked perfectly. Thanks so much.