Disable browser opening on 'mailto' links?


A

archz2

Well-known member
Local time
3:37 PM
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39
OS
Windows 11
How can I completely disable the mailto protocol in Windows 11 so that clicking an email address link does absolutely nothing? Currently, the OS forces Google Chrome to open, and the Windows 11 'Default apps' GUI does not provide an option to unassign the protocol or leave it blank. I am looking for a registry edit or script to black-hole the action.
It's very annoying when I click on an email address on a website in Firefox, Edge or Brave and suddenly chrome opens up.

1773845654706.webp
 
Windows Build/Version
23H2 - build 22631.6199

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Assign another app to take the protocol, or, reset all defaults.
 

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Edwin said:
Assign another app to take the protocol, or, reset all defaults.
Click to expand...
I know, resetting would put Edge as default. What I'm looking for is that no app should open when I click on email links. And where's the exact option for customizing apps for 'mail to' ? Can you please share a screenshot?
 

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archz2 said:
I'm using windows home, so i didn't have group policy editor by default. So I followed instructions from this reddit thread to enable access to it.
Click to expand...
You do need to check each change you do in the Registry to find out if the intended change was implemented or not [GPE on Home does not work for all changes, for many policies, it is just a viewer].


Denis
 

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archz2 said:
Disable browser opening on 'mailto' links...
Click to expand...
Settings/Privacy and security/Permissions/Additional permissions/Protocol handlers/Don't allow sites to handle protocols
archz2 said:
How can I completely disable the mailto protocol in Windows 11...
Click to expand...
You can't.
archz2 said:
It's very annoying when I click on an email address on a website in Firefox, Edge or Brave and suddenly chrome opens up.
...no app should open when I click on email links.
Click to expand...
Why then are you clicking on email addresses?
 

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    ...Where's my horse?

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    OS
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Sin-built 2013
    CPU
    Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4770K CPU @ 3.50GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus VI Formula
    Memory
    32.0 GB of I forget and the box is in storage.
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gigabyte nVidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super OC 6GB
    Sound Card
    ROG SupremeFX Formula 8-Channel High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    5 x LG 25MS500-B - 1 x 24MK430H-B - 1 x Wacom Pro 22" Touch Screen Tablet
    Screen Resolution
    All over the place
    Hard Drives
    Too many to list. OS on Samsung 1TB 870 QVO SATA
    PSU
    Silverstone 1500
    Case
    NZXT Phantom 820 Full-Tower Case
    Cooling
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    Kaspersky Premium
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    ASUS RT-BE88U Router

    Brother MFC-L2880DW Printer

    I’m on a horse.

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    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Process...16GB LPDDR5-52001x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)
    Computer type
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    Manufacturer/Model
    LENOVO Yoga 7 14IRL8 - Type 82YL
    CPU
    13th Generation Intel® Core™ i5-1340P Processor(Core™ i5-1340P)
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    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
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    M.2 512 GB SSD PCIe
    Mouse
    Logiteck MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    2000/500
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    Defender / Malwarebytes
    Other Info
    …still on a horse.


    Wireless Network: Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above
    Ports: 1x 1 Novo button; 2 in 1 Audio Combo jack; Micro SD Card Reader; HDMI 1.4b; 2 x USB Type-C (TBT4)
    USB 3.2 Gen 2 DP 1.4a
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    1x 1080P FHD IR/RGB Hybrid with Privacy Shutter and Dual Array Microphone
    Graphics
    1x Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics
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    14" WUXGA
    Form Factor
    Convertible Notebook
  • Windows 11 Pro 25H2 Build 26200.9168 (Wifes)

    Yoga 7 2-in-1 14IML9 - Type 83DJ

    Processor: Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 155H Processor(Core™ Ultra 7 155H)

    Memory: 32GB LPD5X-7467

    Hard Drive: 1 TB SSD PCIe

    Wireless Network: 1x Wi-Fi 6E 2x2 AX; Bluetooth® 5.1 or above

    Ports: 1 x HDMI 2.1 TMDS; 1 x Novo Button; 1 x Combo Audio Jack
    2 x USB-C (USB 4.0)
    1 x USB-A 3.2 Gen 1

    Camera: 1080P FHD IR Hybrid with Dual Microphone

    Graphics: Intel® Arc™ Graphics

    Monitor: 14" 2.8K

    ...Where's my horse?
If you attempt to invoke a mailto protocol from within Windows, the OS will persuade you to install a program/client...

m1.webp

If you disable browser protocol handling ...

12847.webp

... then clicking on an email does nothing...

12844.gif

However, if you create a mailto: shortcut on your Desktop, it will simply open a blank or new tab in your default browser, regardless...

12846.webp
 

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System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
  • ASUS VivoBook 'Lite' ~ Windows 11 Home
Try3 said:
You do need to check each change you do in the Registry to find out if the intended change was implemented or not [GPE on Home does not work for all changes, for many policies, it is just a viewer].


Denis
Click to expand...
Yes. I checked. Those settings in GPE and Regedit. They're as per the guide you shared.
 

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Edwin said:
Settings/Privacy and security/Permissions/Additional permissions/Protocol handlers/Don't allow sites to handle protocols
Click to expand...
Somehow this isn't available at my end. Permissions option is absent.

1773920019907.webp
 

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Windows 11
Edwin said:
Why then are you clicking on email addresses?
Click to expand...
Accidental left clicks happen when I want to do a right click and save the email address.
 

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Windows 11
archz2 said:
Somehow this isn't available at my end. Permissions option is absent.
Click to expand...
Sorry, the full path should be:
Settings/Privacy and security/Site settings/Permissions/Additional permissions/Protocol handlers/Don't allow sites to handle protocols
or,
just paste this into your address bar: chrome://settings/handlers
 

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System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
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    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
  • ASUS VivoBook 'Lite' ~ Windows 11 Home

My Computers My Computers

System One System Two Other systems

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS ROG Strix

  • At a glance

    Windows 11 Pro
    Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    ASUS VivoBook
  • ASUS VivoBook 'Lite' ~ Windows 11 Home
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