How to Make Gmail and Outlook Default Email Client on iPhone?

Compared to the native Mail app on iPhone and iPad, Gmail and Outlook offer superior functionality and better user experience overall. The trick is, you can’t set either one as the default email app on your iOS or iPadOS device. Or is that the case now?

With the release of iOS 14 and iPadOS 14, Apple finally allowed third-party email clients to replace the Mail app. That means you can now set Gmail or Outlook as the default email app on iPhone and iPad.

What do you need

To set a third-party email client as the default, your iPhone or iPad must be running iOS 14 or iPadOS 14. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to confirm. If your device has an older version of iOS or iPadOS, you’ll see an option to upgrade (as long as your device is compatible with iOS 14 or iPadOS 14).

You should also update your preferred email app – Gmail or Outlook. Go to the App Store, search for ‘Gmail’ or ‘Outlook’ and then tap Update if you see the option listed.

Setting Gmail as Default Email Client

Gmail is among the best third-party email apps for iPhone and iPad with world-class mail organization and compose capabilities. Follow the steps below to set it as the default email client on your iPhone or iPad.

Open the Settings app on your iPhone or iPad. Then scroll down and select Gmail. Follow by tapping the option labeled Default Mail App.

Select Gmail in the list of email apps displayed, and then exit the Settings app.

Gmail is now the default email client on your iPhone and iPad. Any mailto link you tap will automatically cause Gmail to show up.

Setting Outlook as Default Email Client

Outlook comes with a dizzying array of features that make it an incredible email app to use on iPhone and iPad.

To set it as the default email app client, start by opening the Settings app on your iPadOS device’s iOS. Then scroll down and select Outlook. Follow by tapping Default Mail App.

OntList of email apps that appear, choose Outlook, and then exit the Settings app.

Outlook will now appear whenever you tap a mailto link while interacting with your iOS or iPadOS device.

Default Email Setting Doesn’t Work

Even though you set Gmail or Outlook as the default email app on your iPhone or iPad, you may find that the native Mail app still appears when you tap a mailto link. There are several reasons why this happens.

Update for iOS/ipados 14.0.1 or Higher

There is a known bug in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 GM (Golden Master) that automatically reverts the default email app setting to native Mail every time you restart your iPhone or iPad.

At the time of writing, Apple has fixed the issue with the iOS/ipados 14.0.1 incremental update. So, go to Settings > General > Software Update and update your iPhone or iPad to the latest iOS 14 or iPadOS 14.

Disable Mail App Accounts

If you have set up an iCloud email account or other third-party email account to work with the Mail app, this may prevent your preferred third-party email app from launching.

To fix this, go to Settings > Mail > Accounts and disable iCloud or third-party email account integration with the Mail app.

Delete or Hide the Mail App

After you set Gmail or Outlook as the default email app on your iPhone or iPad, you can choose to delete the native Mail app from your device. Or you can choose to hide it within the Application Library.

Long press on the Mail app icon and then select Uninstall App. Then tap Delete App to remove the Mail app or Move to App Library to hide it.

If you deleted the Mail app, you can always get it back by downloading it from the App Store. You can access it from the App Library if you chose to hide it – swipe right from the last Home screen slide to go to the App Library.

If you want to set the Mail app as the default email client again, go to Settings > Mail > Default Mail App and then select Mail.

Outdoor Garden

The ability to change the default email client on iPhone and iPad is one of the biggest improvements in iOS 14 and iPadOS 14. You may also want to check out how you can change the default web browser on your phone or tablet.

Next: With the release of iOS 14, Apple introduced the brand new Translate app. Here are 9 great tips that can help you get the most out of it.