Outlook as default without setting up Mail?

The workaround is to setup Mail app with one of your accounts, change the default app preferences as Kurt advised, then disable the account for mail by unchecking Mail etc in the preferences. There will be no processing of the account you set up temporarily in this way.

I don't know if Mail forces you to set up an account before you can do the following steps, but yes, you can make Outlook the default email client. From Microsoft's site:

Set up your default email reader

Your default mail reader is what's used when you're browsing a web page and share it via email with a friend or colleague, or mail it to yourself for further reading. The Mac default is to use the Mail app, but you can change the default to Outlook.

1. Open Finder > Applications.
2. Select Mail.
3. Select Mail > Preferences.
4. On the General tab, in Default email reader, select Microsoft Outlook.

t_perry wrote:

Hello,

It seems like the other posts suggest I need to setup up the Mail program before I can make Outlook my default. I would prefer not to set up my email in this app and only use outlook.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/blog/2014/10/31/new-outlook-mac-available-office-365-customers/

I was afraid of that, but as peter_watt said, just setup anything as an account so you can get to the preferences. You may be able to enter nonsense to get past it. Such as using Other Mail Account and entering a fictitious email address like nomail@nowhere.com .

You can always log into your mail using your browser. This would be Browser mail.

Otherwise you need a client side mail program.

Excellent! 🙂