How do I keep Safari from launching Mail when I click on a mailto: URL?

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How do I keep Safari from launching Mail when I click on a mailto: URL?

I have a MacBook running Mavericks 10.9.4, running Safari 7.0.6.

I read my email via the gmail website, so I don't need to use the Mail application. The problem is, if I accidentally click on a mailto: link, it runs Mail.

I've seen some fixes online which change the mail application to something else, but that's not what I want; I want to stop the behavior entirely.

Any ideas? (I know about modifying .plist files, so if there's a quick hack there, that would be nice to know.)

MacBook, OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Aug 18, 2014 5:18 PM

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Answer 1

Kappy

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Aug 18, 2014 5:23 PM in response to Fnordmeister

The default email application is set via the General preferences of Mail preferences.

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Answer 2

Fnordmeister Author

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Aug 18, 2014 11:39 PM in response to Kappy

That would work ... if there was a "none" option, which there isn't.

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Answer 3

Aug 18, 2014 11:50 PM in response to Fnordmeister

I can't promise this will work since I don't want to mess with my preferences to try it:

Open the AppleScript Editor in Applications/Utilities. Paste this into it:

do shell script "open https://mail.google.com"

Save as an application and place somewhere convenient. Nominate this application as your default mail application.

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Answer 4

Fnordmeister Author

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Aug 20, 2014 11:08 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Good idea, but Mail requires an APP not a script as its default reader. Now if I could compile the script into an app, that would work ...

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Answer 5

Kappy

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361,741 points

Aug 20, 2014 11:10 PM in response to Fnordmeister

Save as an application and place somewhere convenient. Nominate this application as your default mail application.

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Answer 6

Aug 20, 2014 11:26 PM in response to Fnordmeister

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Answer 7

Fnordmeister Author

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Aug 21, 2014 4:27 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Thanks, I didn't see that option (and didn't know that it existed). (And here I've been, trying to get appify to work ...)

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Answer 8

Sep 1, 2015 2:31 PM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Hello, I am having trouble with implementing this solution. After creating the AppleScript app I it as the default application in 'Mail'. This appears to work, however when I quit then restart Mail the chosen application has reverted to 'Mail'. Do you know how I can get the selection to stay, rather than revert to Mail?

Context:

Have Mailto extension installed and active on Safari, running OS X Yosemite
Wanting to open mailto links with Gmail, however current behaviour that it opens Mail
If I use this solution How can I stop Mail from openingonly a new blank tab in Safari opens, no Mail nor Gmail
I believe I have privileges etc. set correctly

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