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How to Set Outlook as the Default Mail Client on Windows or Mac

Set Outlook as the app that opens email links on Windows or Mac, and learn why this does not change the account Outlook uses to send messages.

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To make Outlook the app that opens when you use an email link, set it as your operating system’s default email app. On Windows, use Default apps; on macOS, change Default email reader in Apple Mail’s settings. This is separate from choosing which Outlook account sends a new message.

Set Outlook as the default email app in Windows

The exact steps depend on whether you use Windows 10 or Windows 11. Microsoft’s instructions cover Outlook for Microsoft 365, Outlook 2024, Outlook 2021, and new Outlook for Windows.

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Windows 11

  1. Open Start, search for Default apps, and open the settings page.
  2. Under Set defaults for applications, select Outlook.
  3. Set Outlook for each listed mail-related file type and link type, then select Set default to confirm.

Windows 11 presents the associations individually. Selecting Outlook in the app list is not the whole process: assign Outlook to the listed email-related types and links as well. See Microsoft’s Windows instructions for making Outlook the default program.

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Windows 10

  1. Open Start, search for Default apps, and open the settings page.
  2. Under Email, select the current app.
  3. Choose Outlook.

Microsoft’s Windows guidance covers the Outlook editions listed above; the steps for changing the default email app differ between Windows versions.

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Set Outlook as the default email reader in macOS

  1. In Finder, open Applications and select Mail.
  2. In the menu bar, choose Mail > Settings > General.
  3. Open Default email reader and select Microsoft Outlook.

This setting directs email actions—such as emailing a webpage link—to Outlook. Apple Mail’s settings control the system’s default reader; Outlook’s account setting is separate. Microsoft explains the distinction in its guidance on setting an account as the default in Outlook for Mac.

Default email app versus default sending account

The operating system’s default email app determines which program opens when another app or a link starts an email. Outlook’s default or primary account determines which account Outlook uses to send messages. Changing the system default does not change the sending account inside Outlook.

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If you meant the sender address, change the account setting in Outlook rather than the Windows or macOS default-app setting. Microsoft provides separate instructions for changing the account used to send email in Outlook for Windows. For older Outlook 2016 for Mac, Microsoft also has guidance on making Outlook the default application for email, calendar, and contacts.

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