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

can't set mailto with gmail in the firefox preferences

  • 21 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 2 views
  • Last reply by albertob

more options

I'm Trying to set the mailto function with Gmail in the application otpions . I clearly understand the procedure here https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-program-used-open-email-links, but when I try to make my choice I'm Missing the use Yahoo or use gmail options as it is in the article. what I have as option is just , always ask, default app and other, which open me to other possible applications . thanks A.

I'm Trying to set the mailto function with Gmail in the application otpions . I clearly understand the procedure here https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/change-program-used-open-email-links, but when I try to make my choice I'm Missing the use Yahoo or use gmail options as it is in the article. what I have as option is just , always ask, default app and other, which open me to other possible applications . thanks A.

Chosen solution

thanks so much for your patience!.

it works!!! GSuite u2 is the one!

great!!

Read this answer in context 👍 0

All Replies (20)

more options

You should contact Gmail support for email function.

more options

WestEnd said

You should contact Gmail support for email function.

sounds strange that depends on gmail rather than Firefox. I will post the problem on Gmail forum. thanks

more options

Hello albertob,

Those two options should definately be listed there.

I have called somebody for help ......

more options

McCoy said

Hello albertob, Those two options should definately be listed there. I have called somebody for help ......

thanks , I actually made a recover of firefox and the two options are now back. the point is that I have two avvounts on gmail , a normal one and a Gsuite which is actually the one I'm currently use . so my next goal is to switch from mailto ...@gmail to my gsuite which has another adress , thanks

more options

I was just about to ask you if you have Gmail listed as the value on the "about:config" page for this preference :

"gecko.handlerservice.schemes.mailto.1.name"

But now that you've got the options back, would you please mark your own last post as Chosen Solution  ?

more options

albertob said

the point is that I have two avvounts on gmail , a normal one and a Gsuite which is actually the one I'm currently use . so my next goal is to switch from mailto ...@gmail to my gsuite which has another adress , thanks

Hi albertob, when you click a mailto link and choose a handler, Firefox tacks the address on to a URL to the mail provider's new message compose page. In order to suggest how to add a new mailto handler, we (you) would need to know that critical "compose" address.

This thread has an example for Outlook. If you search around for one for Gsuite, perhaps you can follow a similar strategy:

https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1235002#answer-1157748

Modified by jscher2000 - Support Volunteer

more options

thanks , the process you suggest me is not clear to me . when I compose a new message on my gsuite I can copy the link but then what I'm supposed to do with it? thanks a lot A.

more options

Okay, at this point, I have to reveal my ignorance about GSuite: does it use the same addresses as consumer Gmail or does it have distinct addresses?

Assuming you have a distinct compose address, test it by adding the new email address parameter. For example, let's say the address is:

https://www.example.com/inbox/compose?to=alice@example.com

You would test by changing to a different address like bob@example.com and try submitting that through the address bar in a new tab, and see whether you get a compose window with that address filled in.

more options

if I paste the the adress of a new message with my gsuite and past it in anew tab it works correctly. what I'm missing now is what I'm supposed to do wiht that link on firefox setting firefox ? thanks

more options

If you look at the steps in the Outlook thread, you would follow the same approach with GSuite except you would change the URL in this step:

navigator.registerProtocolHandler('mailto', 'Your URL', 'GSuite');

When putting together the URL, change the example email address to the parameter

%s

Firefox will fill in the mailto information where it finds that parameter.

more options

sorry , but I don't know what this mean? " navigator.registerProtocolHandler('mailto', 'Your URL', 'GSuite');"

what I 'm supposed to do? thanks

more options

Hi albertob, that is part of the steps in this reply that I linked to before:

https://support.mozilla.org/questions/1235002#answer-1157748

I suppose I could rewrite that for you, but since I cannot test it myself on your mail webste, I don't want to give you the false impression that it good to go. It's an experiment and I look forward to hearing how you did.

more options

hi, the point is that I don't really understand all this procedure, my fault

(1) Open Firefox's Web Console in the lower part of the tab below your mailbox. You can do that using either:

   Ctrl+Shift+k (Mac: Command+Alt+k)
   "3-bar" menu button > Web Developer > Web Console
   (menu bar) Tools > Web Developer > Web Console 

(2) Select and copy the following line of script (it's all one line -- ignore the fact that the forum creates links):

navigator.registerProtocolHandler('mailto', 'https://outlook.live.com/owa/?path=/mail/action/compose&to=%s', 'Outlook Live OWA To');

(3) In the tab with your mailbox, paste the script next to the caret (>>) at the bottom of the Web Console, and press the Enter key (or Return key) to run the script. The first time, Firefox may ask you to take some action to prove you understand it's dangerous to run scripts from strangers.

more options

Hi albertob, that's right. You are going to be viewing your mailbox, then open the web console in the lower part of that same tab, then enter the new script command that you're putting together (with the compose address you discovered).

more options

sorry about that , but I really don't know what "You are going to be viewing your mailbox, then open the web console in the lower part of that same tab" means. this is my gmail page, where is the lower part of that same tab?

thanks A.

more options

Hi albertob, let me see whether I can fill in the gaps:

(1) Open your GSuite mailbox

(2) Now open Firefox's Web Console in the lower part of the same tab (below your mailbox) using any of these methods:

  • Ctrl+Shift+k (Mac: Command+Alt+k)
  • "3-bar" menu button > Web Developer > Web Console
  • (menu bar) Tools > Web Developer > Web Console

(3) Select and copy the following incomplete line of script (it's all one line):

navigator.registerProtocolHandler('mailto', 'YourURL', 'GSuite');

(4) In the Web Console (below your mailbox), paste the script next to the caret (»).

Edit YourURL to the compose URL for GSuite, making sure that there is a %s where you want Firefox to insert the email address.

Then press the Enter key (or Return key) to run the script.

The first time, Firefox may ask you to take some action to prove you understand it's dangerous to run scripts from strangers.

(5) Look for an infobar at the top of the page, just above your mailbox. This should ask whether you want to Add GSuite as a handler for mailto links. Click "Add Application".

(Example screenshot for Outlook -- clicking will replace this page: )

(6) You now can close the Web Console by clicking the "X" on its top bar at the right.

more options

ok thanks, I'm almost there... when you say (3) Select and copy the following incomplete line of script (it's all one line):

navigator.registerProtocolHandler('mailto', 'YourURL', 'GSuite');

it means litterally navigator... open parenthesis 'mailto' , my url of gmail, Gsuite, close parenthesis?

more options

Yes, everything is literal except YourURL which is the part I don't know that you are putting together from your experience.

more options

is anything correct here?

more options

Two things:

First, 'YourURL' needs to have either a single or double quotation mark on each side.

Second, the first time, you have a URL that says compose=new but doesn't have any place for Firefox to pass the linked email address. The second time, it seems to be the Inbox address that won't trigger composing a new message.

After studying what /u/2 means in your URL, it seems that as you log in to more mailboxes, Google numbers them /u/0 for the first account, then /u/1 for the second account, then /u/2 for the third account. Let's assume "/u/2" is stable for your GSuite account, although that's just an assumption on my part. Try this:

navigator.registerProtocolHandler('mailto', 'https://mail.google.com/mail/u/2/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s', 'GSuite u2');

Any luck?

  1. 1
  2. 2