Default mail client - how can one obtain it programatically

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How can one check if there is a default mail client (i.e. Outlook) or there isn't such.
Usually if you type "mailto://someone@domain.com, it will open this default client, or if there isn't such, a message will appear. What I am trying to find out is how can this information be found programatically.

Posted 30-Jan-15 2:47am

Michael Haephrati

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Jochen Arndt · Accepted Answer · 2015-01-30T02:58:00

Solution 1

See the MSDN article How to Register an Internet Browser or Email Client With the Windows Start Menu[^].

It describes how to set the default programs using the registry. Read the mentioned keys to determine the default program.

Posted 30-Jan-15 2:58am

Jochen Arndt

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Michael Haephrati 1-Feb-15 14:53pm

Your solution is good but I couldn't find that it 100% works. If you use outlook and uncheck the "Set as default mail client", and then check the registry, it leads to false positive results. Not really sure..

Jochen Arndt 2-Feb-15 3:26am

I don't have Outlook so I can't check this. It seems that Outlook does not delete the keys when disabling as default client. Did you get a message or is Outlook opened in this case? If you get a message, there must be another solution.