It doesn’t have to be Mail.
By default, Mac OS X is pre-configured with Mail, Apple’s e-mail application, set as the default e-mail client. That means clicking a link to an e-mail address or accessing your e-mail program from within another application will automatically launch Mail.
But you can easily change it to an e-mail client you prefer. Here’s how:
- Open Mail.
- Choose Mail > Preferences to open the preferences window.
If necessary, click the General button in the preferences window’s toolbar to display General options.- Choose the mail client you prefer from the Default email reader pop-up menu. If the application is not listed by name, you can choose Select from the menu and use the dialog that appears to locate and select the e-mail client you want. (Obviously, the application must be installed on your computer to select it.)
- Click the window’s close button to dismiss it.
- Choose Mail > Quit Mail to quit Mail.
Changes take affect as soon as you quit Mail.
Note that the preferences window shown here is for Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. These steps also work in Tiger, although the preferences window may look different.
Chapter and Page References
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard: Visual QuickStart Guide includes more information about related topics:
- Connecting to the Internet, Chapter 18
- Mac OS X’s Internet Applications, page 419
- Using Mail, pages 421-435