How can I change the default email client without installing an email account in Mail?

Unfortunately, according to Microsoft and Apple the only way to set the default email client in Ventura is to install an email account in Mail then change the setting.

If I may complain for a bit:

This is the most un-intuitive design imaginable. There is no way the average user would ever be able to figure this out. They will be frustrated by this for the entire life of their Apple device. Whenever they click an email link it will pop open Mail (the client with no account in it) and then they will struggle with trying to get the email address into Outlook or whatever client they prefer. This is definetly not user-friendly. I've used Macs since the 80's and it saddens me to see them stray away from their original user-friendly designs. To me, this is just one more example of how they've lost their way.

Thanks for your consideration and time Grant!

-Shawn

Hi Grant,

I found it very odd that the only way I could avoid using Mail was to use Mail. I wanted to make Outlook my default email client on my new MacBook, but you can not do this without setting up an email account in Mail. The user is prevented from changing the settings if there is no email account in Mail. I find this type of setup a little cheesy.

Do you know of any way to avoid this time-wasting nonsense?

Thanks,

-Shawn

LOL. Fair enough. I will endeavor to do so. I appreciate the kind ear.

I used the Feedback link. Thanks for that.

Have a great day,

-Shawn