Set Gmail as Default Mail Client in Ubuntu - Easy Guide

Setting Gmail as Your Default Mail Client in Ubuntu

For many users, Gmail is the go-to email service, and its use is almost a standard. Now, Ubuntu users can configure Gmail as their default email client without needing to install any additional software.

This functionality contrasts with Windows, which typically requires the Gmail Notifier to be installed for similar integration.

Configuration Steps

Begin by navigating to System Settings, then to Preferred Applications.

Within the Preferred Applications settings, locate the Mail Reader option. Select "Custom" from the dropdown menu.

A command window will appear. Enter the following command, remembering to replace "geek" with your actual username:

/home/geek/open_mailto.sh %s

Creating the Shell Script

Next, a shell script needs to be created and saved within your user directory ( /home/username ).

The script's content should be as follows:

#!/bin/sh

firefox https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=`echo $1 | sed 's/mailto://'`

Opening in a New Tab

If you prefer the script to open a new tab within an existing Firefox window, modify the firefox line in the script to read:

firefox -remote "openurl(https://mail.google.com/mail?view=cm&tf=0&to=`echo $1 | sed 's/mailto://'`,new-tab)"

Hiding the Script

To conceal the script file by default, rename it by prefixing it with a period (.). For example, .open_mailto.sh. Remember to update the file path in your preferences accordingly.

Making the Script Executable

Open a terminal and execute the following command to grant the script executable permissions:

chmod u+x ~/open_mailto.sh

The configuration should now be complete and functional.

Testing the Setup

To verify the setup, click on a "contact" or "email" link on a webpage. This should immediately open a new Gmail compose window.