The operating system allows users to designate a specific email client as the primary application for handling mail-related tasks. This selection determines which program opens when a mailto: link is clicked in a web browser, or when an application attempts to initiate an email composition window. As an example, if a user prefers using Thunderbird over Apple Mail, they can configure the system to launch Thunderbird whenever an email action is triggered.
Configuring the preferred email application provides a consistent and personalized experience. It ensures that email interactions are handled by the user’s chosen environment, with its specific configurations, accounts, and extensions. Previously, modifications of system files were often required to achieve this, a practice that introduced instability. Modern methods offer safer and simpler means to effect this change, thereby improving system reliability. This choice facilitates workflow efficiency by removing the need to constantly select the desired application manually.