Change the Default Email App
Before you switch the default mail app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, make sure that you have the email app already installed on your device. This applies to all applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Gmail, Yahoo, AOL, Spark, Edison Mail, Proton Mail, Airmail, Canary Mail, and others.
After you make the change, tap or click any email address (for example, on a website or in a document) to verify a new message opens in your selected default email app.
Change the Default Email App on iPhone and iPad
You have two different ways to switch to your preferred email app on iPhone and iPad. One method uses the iPhone email settings and the other is in the app settings. Be sure you’re running at least iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 to make the change.
Switch email apps in the mobile Default Settings
Follow these steps to change the default email app in the Settings on your iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings.
- Select Apps at the bottom.
- Choose Default Apps at the top.
- Tap Email and pick the app you want to use.
Switch email apps in the mobile app Settings
To switch the default from Mail using the app settings, do the following:
- Open the Settings.
- Select Apps at the bottom.
- Choose the app you want to use.
- Tap Default Email App and pick the app name.
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Change the Default Email App on Mac
Different from iPhone and iPad, you have one simple way to change the email app on Mac.
- Launch the Mail app.
- Select Mail → Settings in the menu bar.
- Go to the General tab.
- Open the Default email reader drop-down menu and pick the app you want to use.
Clean Email: The Prefect Mailbox Companion
To accompany the Smart Folders mentioned above, Clean Email provides even more features for efficient mailbox management that you won’t find in similar apps. Unlike an email client, Clean Email is a supplementary tool that helps organize messages on your Mac and iPhone, and declutter your inbox regardless of your email app or IMAP service provider.
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Cleaning Suggestions: Get recommendations for tidying up your mailbox. You can mark, move, or archive groups of messages with suggestions based on your previous actions.
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Clean Email provides cross-device syncing with full functionality in the dedicated apps on iOS and macOS. The application is also privacy-focused which means it doesn’t share your data or target you with ads.
Change the Default Web Browser
As with changing the email app, be sure that you have the web browser installed on your device before attempting to make it the default. This includes Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, Vivaldi, Arc Browser, Microsoft Edge, and others.
Once you make the change, tap or click a link to confirm the website opens in your chosen browser app.
How to Change Default Browser on iPhone and iPad
As with changing the email app, you have two ways to switch the web browser on iPhone and iPad. Again, confirm that you’re running at least iOS 14 or iPadOS 14.
Switch browsers in the mobile Default Settings
Follow these steps to change the default browser app in the Settings on your iPhone or iPad:
- Open the Settings.
- Select Apps at the bottom.
- Choose Default Apps at the top.
- Tap Browser App and pick the app you want to set as the default.
Switch browsers in the mobile app Settings
To switch the default from Safari using the browser app settings, do the following:
- Open the Settings.
- Select Apps at the bottom.
- Choose the app you want to use.
- Tap Default Browser App and pick the app name.
How to Change Default Browser on Mac
Like on mobile, you have two different ways to pick a default web browser other than Safari on Mac.
Compatibility: Mac, MacOS, MacBook, MacBook Air, Mac computer, Mac OS X, Mac Yosemite, Mac Sierra, Mac Mojave, Mac Monterey, Mac Sonoma, and newer
Switch browsers in the System Settings
Follow these steps to change your preferred browser app in the System Settings on your Mac:
- In macOS Ventura or later, open the System Settings.
- Select Desktop & Dock on the left.
- Move directly below the Widgets section.
- Open the Default web browser drop-down menu and pick the browser you want to use.
In earlier versions of macOS, open the System Preferences, select General, open the Default web browser menu, and pick the browser.
Switch browsers in the Desktop App Settings
To switch the default from Safari using the browser app settings, do the following:
- Launch the web browser you want to set as the default.
- Select [Browser] → Settings in the menu bar.
- In Firefox, pick General on the left and click Make Default below Startup on the right.
- In Chrome or Edge, pick Default browser on the left and Make default on the right.
- In other browsers such as Opera, Vivaldi, or Arc Browser, look for a similar “Make default” setting.
- Confirm the change by choosing Use [Browser] in the pop-up window.
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Wrap-Up
The ability to switch these default apps on your Apple device is a wonderful option that can even result in improved focus and concentration. How? You don’t have to continuously close and open multiple apps to get the job done; you’ll go directly to your favorite.
Whether it’s an iPhone change of the default email send account to Gmail, an iPad change of the default web browser to Chrome, or a Mac change of the default email app to Outlook, it involves only a few steps.
And remember, Clean Email offers a robust feature set that can take the management of your messages and mailbox to the next level.
