hamed Khademi's Profile

Ready to set up Gmail? Roll up those sleeves.

1. Open Gmail in Firefox.
2. In the tab where Gmail is loaded, copy and paste the following snippet of JavaScript into your address bar:
   
   javascript:window.navigator.registerProtocolHandler("mailto","https://mail.google.com/mail/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s","GMail")
   
   
   
   If you are a Google Apps user, use this code instead, but replace example.com with your domain name:
   
   javascript:window.navigator.registerProtocolHandler("mailto","https://mail.google.com/a/example.com/mail/?extsrc=mailto&url=%s","GMail")
   
   
3. Firefox 3 will ask permission to add Gmail as default mailto handler. Click the Add Application button, as shown.
   
   

Update, 6/18/08: Thanks to a great tip from a reader Andrew, the instructions above have been shortened considerably. Thanks, Andrew!

Now, if you click a mailto: link—try the tips link on Lifehacker's sidebar—Firefox 3 will ask which application you want to use. Choose Gmail, and select "Remember my choice for mailto links" to set the preference permanently.