Default App for "Mailto" link opens endless tabs and e-mail windows until PC crashes Windows 11

Question

The mailto protocol in Windows 11 is repeatedly trying to open - it rarely ceases and tends to lock up my computer.

Under Default Apps -> Mail, I have tried changing this to Google Chrome, Outlook (new) and Mail and Calendar App but all have the same issue, relentless tabs or windows opening. I tried terminating each of the Apps, turning off notifications, turn off running in background but none of this works.

When I delete any of the these Apps, a few seconds later there is a window asking "Select a Default App for Mailto Links" and this window cannot be closed and blocks access to everything else until you select a new default app and the problem continues with relentless tabs/windows.

Starting the PC in safe mode stops this and is the only way now that I can use my PC.

How do I resolve this?

Answer 1

Hi Susan,

Thanks for your post. Apart from verifying the App default, please also verify the browser isn't overriding the OS.

For Edge open Settings > Cookies and site permissions > Protocol handlers. Under Handlers for email links, click the 3 dot (...) menu and remove any "Default" entry that's not Outlook. The steps will be similar for Chrome/Firefox/Safari, Google for the instructions if needed.

Also, if you select the Firefox program to handle a file when you get an "Open with" dialog.

Check the Mailto application in Firefox > Preferences > Applications Make sure it isn't set to the Firefox application because Firefox can't handle the mailto protocol internally and you will get tabs opening endlessly.

Best Regards,

Ian Xue

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