If you receive this error setting up iCloud, see iCloud error: Outlook isn't configured to have a default profile
After you install Outlook 2010, Outlook 2013, or Outlook 2016 and try to send mail using the File, Send by email command in other applications, Outlook may not be recognized as the default mail client.
The causes include:
- You are using Outlook 64-bit and 32-bit programs can't "see" 64-bit programs.
- Installing the application AFTER installing Office. The fix: repair Office.
- Internet Explorer is set to use Windows Live
Verify Outlook is set as default mail client
To verify Outlook is indeed set as your default email client:
First, in Outlook, go to File, Options, General. Is Outlook set as the default client?
Next check the Windows settings.
In Windows 10:
- Open Settings
- Type Default Apps in the Find a setting field
- Verify Outlook is set as the default Email client at the top of the page.
In older versions of Windows:
- Open Control Panel and search for Default Programs.
- Select Set Default Programs link.
- Choose Microsoft Outlook from the list of programs.
Click "Set this program as default".
Repair Office installation
If the affected program was installed after Office, try repairing the Office installation.
- Open Control panel, Program and Features
- Find and select your Office or Outlook installation
- Click Change
- Select Quick Repair then click the Repair button. (In older versions of Office, the option is called Repair.)
Using Outlook 64-bit with 32-bit Applications
Using 64-bit Office is not recommended unless you need large (2GB) file support in Excel or Access. There is no benefit in using Office 64 bit for "normal" users. Also, you cannot mix-and-match Office 'bitness' - you need to use all 64-bit or all 32-bit Office applications. See 64-bit editions of Office 2010 for Microsoft's recommendations.
If you are using Office 64 bit, check this registry key and create it if it does not exist.
Outlook 2016
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\16.0\Outlook
String: Bitness
Value: x64
Outlook 2013
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\15.0\Outlook
String: Bitness
Value: x64
If you don't want to edit the registry yourself, you can download and run this registry file:
Outlook 2016Outlook 2013.
Outlook 2010 Click to Run
If you are using Outlook 2010 Home and Business C2R, you should uninstall it then log into the download site and download the MSI. This will install the traditional Office suite, which is recognized by other applications.
Note: All Office 2013 suites sold "retail" are "click to run". It was designed to work like the traditional MSI installation. Only certain volume licenses include the MSI installation.
If you choose to use the following registry hack, you do so at your own risk - it puts Outlook into an unsupported mode. If you have problems with Outlook, you need to remove these keys before troubleshooting. Our recommendation is to use 32-bit Office.
In the Start menu's Search field, type regedit then press Enter. (You'll probably need to ok a security dialog.)
In the Registry editor, browse to
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail
Right click on the Mail key and Export a copy for backup.
Right-click on Mail again and create a new key called Outlook64Bridge
Next, right-click on Outlook64Bridge and create a key under it called DLLPath. Right-click again and create a key called DLLPathEx.
Locate the 32 bit version of the file MAPI32.dll on your computer and enter the complete path name in each DLLPath key (replacing "something\something\...." with the correct path on your computer):
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Outlook64Bridge\DLLPath
"C:\WINDOWS\something\something\....\mapi32.dll"
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail\Outlook64Bridge\DLLPathEx
"C:\WINDOWS\something\something\....\mapi32.dll"
(On my computer, a mapi32.dll is at C:\Windows\winsxs\x86_microsoft-windows-mapi_31bf3856ad364e35_6.1.7601.17514_none_ad54ab3a7801c830)
Next, change the default client to Outlook64Bridge:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail
"Outlook64Bridge"
Internet Explorer is using Live Mail
Manual shared this information:
Got this box message every time I opened up Outlook 2016. I have Office 2016 Home & Business (32bit) installed. I have Outlook 2016 set as default in "Default Programs" and also
have it set as default in Outlook 2016 under the "General" tab.Open up Internet Explorer. Click open the tools sprocket in upper right. In the sub-menu pop up, select "Manage Add-Ons." When this window shows, click on the "Accelerators" tab in left pane. In the right pane, DISABLE "E-mail with Windows Live". That annoying message is now gone.
Because Windows Live mail client is no longer available, you can either disable, remove, or remove as default.
Pete says
Thanks. Repair in the add/remote programs for Office 2016 fix the issue with my Windows 10 machine not showing Office as an app in the default mail apps.
WifiApp says
I recently installed Office 2016 64 bit on my WIN 10 PC and whenever I use Outlook, at some point I get this message. As suggested here and elsewhere, I have done the usual settings of Outlook as my default mail program in Outlook and in my PC default settings. I also deleted the Internet Explorer Live Mail accelerator. I still get the pop-up message.
I right clicked on the message in the task bar and see that it points to SearchProtocolHost.exe in C:\Windows\SysWOW64. I see that I also have a SearchProtocolHost.exe in C:\Windows\System32. Is this to do with the problem? I previously had 32 bit Office 2007 installed. Please tell me if there is a conflict somewhere, or perhaps I should uninstall 64 bit Office 2016 and try installing 32 bit Office 2016.
I’m pleased to have found this site and the valuable info on it so far. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Diane Poremsky says
I don' believe it is a conflict with 2007, especially if you uninstalled 2007. Have you repaired office install?
WifiApp says
Yes, I repaired Office install at the same time as doing all of the above. Great thing is that within several days of doing all those things I have not seen the message since. I have no idea what fix stopped it. Thanks for the reply. I hope others are helped by this as well.
Diane Poremsky says
I can't say for sure if the repair fixed it this time, because there were some issues on the icloud.com side over the last week or two, but I'm pretty sure that error was on the outlook side.
OldTimeGuru says
Hello All, I have found a solution to all my users who had this issue. What you can do is right-click on the icon on the status bar and it'll will tell you what program this message is related too. Then you can right-click on the program and click on properties to find the location. Mine happened to be an old installation of Dymanics CRM that didn't uninstall cleanly and was using a file within the Program files or Program Files (x86) Microsoft Dynamics 365 that wasn't valid anymore. I deleted the folder and that fixed the problem. Summary just an unclean uninstall of a program was my cause.
Brianna says
I had an issue with this even though I had set outlook as my default mail app. I fixed it by going into "set default apps by file type" (under control panel, in default apps) and changing the .msg files to outlook (for some reason this doesn't change when you set a default mail app)
Diane Poremsky says
Thanks for the information!
Wilma Perold says
My .msg file tipe is changed to use Outlook. I can mail via outlook but still receives the pop-up when I try to store or open a .msg file (email) on my pc.
Diane Poremsky says
Which version and build of Outlook are you using, including the text following the version numbers? See File, Office Account for the information.
just a guy says
somehow my .msg file was changed to outlook, changed it back to outlook 07!
Outlook 97 says
I am receiving this error when trying to run Outlook 97 in Windows Vista—even with administrative privileges. I followed the applicable steps in the article, but they did not resolve the issue.
There is also no key at HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Clients\Mail\Microsoft Outlook; therefore, I cannot follow Microsoft's own advice to delete this key.
Diane Poremsky says
This wouldn't apply to your version, but i would add that key and see if it helps. I don't recall if i have anything in my notes about this version and newer builds of Windows, but will look.
Is there a reason you are using outlook 97? If buying a newer version of outlook is not in the cards, eM client is free for up to 2 accounts and is a very good, secure replacement for outlook.
Amnon says
Just..
settings>>Apps>>Apps & reatures>>>MIcrosoft Office Desktop "remove"
As A charm ..
Manual Daniel says
Quick fix for "Either there is no default mail client or the current mail client cannot fulfill the messaging request." Got this box message every time I opened up Outlook 2016. I have Office 2016 Home & Business (32bit) installed. I have Outlook 2016 set as default in "Default Programs" and also
have it set as default in Outlook 2016 under the "General" tab.
Open up Internet Explorer. Click open the tools sprocket in upper right. In the sub-menu pop up, select "Manage Add-Ons." When this window shows, click on the "Accelerators" tab in left pane. In the right pane, DISABLE "E-mail with Windows Live". That annoying message is now gone.
Diane Poremsky says
Thanks for the information.
Norbert says
Thanks allot, that resolf the problem...
Sally Peters says
I have this question:. On my RDS server which is Windows 2012 R2, I had installed Office 2016. Outlook 2016 is no longer able to connect to our exchange server running 2010 after applying security roll up 18 for Exchange Server. So the MS suggestion is to downgrade Outlook to 2013. I have done that on the RDS server and I removed Outlook 2016. I did not remove the other Office 2016 Pro programs. So now I need to make the Outlook 2013 the default email program so the users can send email from other programs. So if possible to get the answer to where do you set this in the W2012R2 server registry, I might can get this resolved.
I have tried all the things listed by all the other people in this thread.
Outlook does not show in the list so I can choose it as default
Associating file types does not seem to work
other places, Internet Options, etc don't allow the change as well.
I just need to get this working so help is so much appreciated.
Tired and frustrated,
Sally Peters
Beth Carpenter says
Hello!
I believe this is a subset of "Outlook is not Recognized..." Forgive me if I'm wrong.
I am running Windows 7 Enterprise SP1 (current updates) .... Crystal Reports 2013 SP9 (current updates)... and recently participated in a company upgrade to Office 365 ProPlus, subscription. Office version 16.0.6965.2117... Outlook 2016 version 16.0.6925.1049
My problem is that I lost my MAPI option within Crystal to send the results of a query via Outlook. Major frustration and now my tech support is saying that Outlook 2016 doesn't support MAPI anymore? Granted, Email/Outlook/Exchange is not my schtick, but I'm getting bogged down in tech jargon on SAP, Microsoft, service packs, hot fixes, MAPI over HTTP, simple MAPI, etc. All I can say for sure is that what used to work is not working now.
Can you please explain in big animal pictures if I am really on the latest versions (Office Update Options says I'm current, yet I see different versions on MS web site), if there is a version I should be on to "fix" the MAPI issue (I see that there are several versions that fix "MAPI" issues), or if I'm stuck using paper airplanes to send reports to customers? : ^ )
thanks!
bethc
Diane Poremsky says
I believe you are correct - Crystal can't find outlook.
Outlook still supports mapi, but some programs may need to be updated to work with the newest version of outlook. Also, some programs will only 'find' 32-bit outlook.
>> am really on the latest versions (Office Update Options says I'm current, yet I see different versions on MS web site), if there is a version I should be on to "fix" the MAPI issue (I see that there are several versions that fix "MAPI" issues),
If the update button says you are updated, you are. There are a bunch of different update channels. From the looks of it, you are on the volume license or a deferred channel and have the Jan update - that is the last for your channel. The channels and versions are at https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Version-and-build-numbers-of-update-channel-releases-ae942449-1fca-4484-898b-a933ea23def7
Beth Carpenter says
Thank you very much for the prompt reply! I did forget to mention that Outlook 2016 is 32 bit as well as Crystal 2013. I am going to upgrade Crystal 2013 to Crystal 2016 and see if that helps.
bethc
Jacques says
Hi I am using Office 365 64bit and every time I restart my pc and open outlook I get the following error "Either there is no default mail client or the current mail client cannot fulfill the messaging request. Please run Microsoft Outlook Client and set it as the default mail client." Please help. I have made sure that outlook 2016 is set to the default mail client.
Diane Poremsky says
Are you using 32 or 64-bit office? Which Windows OS? You definitely shouldn't get this message opening outlook - but if an other program tries to open outlook and you are using 64-bit, it could happen. Try the instructions for outlook 2013, but change the version to 16.
Leonard Raphael says
DIane, if I switched to 64 bit 2016 Office 365 and get the "either" error with apps such as Adobe when trying to send to email, should I try the reg edits under 2010 above? The bitness edit didn't help.
Len
Diane Poremsky says
it shouldn't be a problem to try those edits - but it might not help. Did you already try a repair?
Len Raphael says
Yes i tried both repairs and then, manually uninstalled Office 365 (sheesh that took an hour) and then ran the uninstall tool also. Rebooting inbetween. Then I installed current channel 32 bit Office. Same problem. Also continue to have issue that the mail icon in Control Panel labeled correctly as OL 2016 but "Application Not Found"
Since I also had that issue with 64bit Office, must be something wrong with Windows itself re mail?
btw, even though on my other 64 bit Office Win 10 machines, File Explore "send to" email fails with same default app message as most 3rd party apps do, talking with a MS tech who says his 64 bit Office works fine with File Explorer "send to mail."
Adrian says
Is the procedure you described here for Outlook 2013 the same for Win10 and Outlook 2016?
The message I get when the 32-bit software I use tries to generate an e-mail is "Either there is no default mail client or the current mail client cannot fulfill the messaging request. Please run Microsoft Outlook and set it as the default mail client." If I look at Default App settings it does show Outlook 2016 as the current default.
Presumably this is a case of my 32-bit app not "seeing" the 64-bit mail client?
Diane Poremsky says
Yes, it is the same for the newer versions. You'll need to change the version # in the reg key.
Ken says
Well, with Win10x64 I upgraded to Office 2016 from 2010 and the mailto function ceased to exist. Also that annoying message box appeared over and over again telling me Windows didn't know what default handler to use. Looking through the register I found two places that still had mailto pointing to Office14. They were:
HKEY_USERS
s-1-5-21-16459996611-391536618-3534850858-1000_classes mailto shell open command
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
mailto shell open command
They both pointed to:"C:PROGRA~2MICROS~1Office14OUTLOOK.EXE" -c IPM.Note /m "%1"
Put both these back to where MS should have them pointing:
"C:Program FilesMicrosoft OfficeRootOffice16OUTLOOK.EXE" -c IPM.Note /mailto "%1"
End of problem
Diane Poremsky says
Thanks for posting this. I'm sure it will help others.
Karen says
My classroom teacher requested that we create an email address through Outlook.com. Once I sign in under Outlook.com it directs me to Outlook@live.com instead. I don't like or want this. How can I get it to go back to @Outlook.com? Thanks
Diane Poremsky says
With the move to the new servers, the web address is https://outlook.live.com/owa/ - you can't go back to the old server, they are retiring them. Sorry.
Tech Dude says
Simple! Disable all add ins and problem solved!
ryan says
I was able to fix my problem by repairing my installation of Adobe Acrobat.
Nitin says
thanks a ton Diane. It worked for me using just 2 steps upto repair office.
Thomas Roddy says
Thanks very much. The first point fixed the problem for me.
Jaybot says
Try this guys, if you have Adobe Reader
Open Adobe Reader
Edit - Preferences- Email Accounts - and make sure you have a default set, or you can get this stupid error with no clue that it's coming from Adobe Reader
Robin says
I have the same problem as Mike C: 64bit Windows 10, with O365 - but I don't seem to be able to force Windows to use Outlook if I click on any type of "Mailto:" link. It just opens the Windows 10 Mail App.
Outlook doesn't appear in the list of Default Programmes, so I cannot select it to link that programme to ALL mail type commands.
Any ideas?
Thanks
Diane Poremsky says
Did you go into Settings to change it? Open Windows 10 settings then search for default - select Choose Default apps by protocol. Find Mailto and click on the current app - the available apps are listed. If Outlook is not listed, which office suite do you own?
Screenshot selecting Outlook for mailto: https://screencast.com/t/4uCb8kV5V
Screenshot: search for choose a default protocol. https://screencast.com/t/kFqFlaho
carlos says
thanks. it did the work
Dave says
Hi Diane,
I have a installed Office 2013 Pro Plus x86 on a new windows 10 Pro x64 client machine. When Outlook is run a dialogue box is displayed stating "There is no mail program associated to perform the requested action. Please install an email program or, if one is already installed, create an association in the Default Programs control panel." I have created an association in the Default Programs control panel, but that made no difference. Office 365 was installed originally, but I have removed Office 365.I have also had to associate every Office 2013 application which is odd.
Any help appreciated.
Diane Poremsky says
Did you do a full repair of Outlook 2013? If that didn't help, you might need to use the Fixit that scrubs office off the drive. It's a killer though- Outlook profiles, custom temples and other user files normally left behind are deleted.
Mike C. says
Diane I'm running 64-bit Windows 10 and using Office 365. I use Outlook as my email Client but also have Windows Live Mail 2012 installed. Even though I have Outlook set as my default email whenever I use Send to > Mail recipient it always uses WLM. In all other email actions (email links etc.) Outlook is used.
Is this the 32-bit vs 64-bit issue causing this?
Diane Poremsky says
What i set as the default client in Control panel, Default programs? Select Outlook and verify it has all of the defaults.
Mike C. says
Thanks I was sure I had verified all of the defaults but apparently not... it's working now! Much appreciated!
Sean Cuhney says
Diane I have a Windows 7 machine and have Office 2010 32-bit and Just installed Office 365 since they say it can run side by side. But we want our users to be able to use both Outlook 2010 and Outlook 2016 365 but when I click on Outlook 2010 I get the following error "Microsoft Outlook has Stopped Working". The only way to fix this issue is to repair it. I can't do this on a roll out to 400 users. My questions are:
Can Outlook 2010 run with Office 365 together?
Is there a certain configuration that is needed when I install Office 365 so that when Office 365 is finished installing that if a user needs to run Outlook 2010 it won't need to be repaired?
Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated.
Diane Poremsky says
They can be installed side by side but you can only use one outlook at a time (if that were the problem, the error should be 'outlook is running'). 2010 should be installed first, then the newer version but I'm not sure you can avoid repairing it. I'll need to test it - it's been awhile since i used the combination.
Nelson Santos says
hello i resolved problem eliminate the addins :
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Microsoft\Office\Outlook\Addins
and no more see the error open outlook
Maria La Frenais says
Hi Diane,
I have no problems with outlook 2013 as my default mail client under normal conditions.
..... But I wish to compress and email a folder on my desktop. When I select to compress and send the file, I get an error message telling me that Outlook is not set as the Default Mail Client.
I have gone into the Control Panel ... Default Programs.
Outlook is definitely set as the default mail client.
... dont know what to do
.
Can you help :(
Many thanks,
Maria
Diane Poremsky says
You're using Windows Compressed folders? Can you send any attachments using the Send to > Mail Recipient command in Windows Explorer?
henrique.i.mello says
eu entro no " programa padrao" (win7 64bit) e nao aparece os programas do office (word, outlook, etc..) mas o office abre normal.
so o outlook quando eu abro ele aparece a tela informando que nao tem o e-mail padrao.
sabe como resolver???
ja fiz reparo do office, usei o fix,
--------------------
I enter the "standard programme" (win7 64 bit) and not appear your office programs (word, outlook, etc.) but the office opens normal.
so the outlook when I open it the screen appears informing you that the e-mail pattern.
know how to solve???
I have done the repair office, used the fix,
Andrew says
That doesn't seem to work... I had to recently rebuild the computer after a meltdown in China and I just can't seem to get it to work again properly. Also now on Windows 10... I used an App previously and it fixed it...
Diane Poremsky says
are you using 64bit office? Some applications cant see the 64bit version.
Bigwil806 says
Diane, I'm trying to run CalCheck_x86 on my Outlook 2010 32bit program but I keep getting a message that Outlook is not the default mail client. I've verified that it is indeed the default mail client. Why can't I get CalCheck to run?
Diane Poremsky says
You are using an Exchange mailbox? It won't work with other calendars. It should throw up a different error if that is the problem though.
Do you have multiple profiles? If so, set Outlook to always use a specific profile.
jack says
i dont have the m/s outlook programs..so there is no option to set as default..so i have outlook.com and mail.live running in tandem..with mail.live as my default...which updates (eventually) my outlook.com email..
Math says
Hello,
I'm using Office 2010 64-bit and Windows 7 64-bit and folowwed the procedure and it does not work. How to I have Windows point to Outlook64Bridge as the default key?
Diane Poremsky says
It should pick it up automatically or on a reboot.
Jan says
Excellent - now I know how to kill Outlook as a default mail client!
Michael says
Is there a known fix for Outlook 2013 64 bit and 32 bit apps, Outlook64Bridge dos not seem to work
Diane Poremsky says
No, sorry, there are no fixes, except switching to 32bit Office or maybe upgrading the application, if a newer version was designed to work with 64bit outlook 2013.
John Duffy says
Hi Diane,
I'm implementing a new CRM and i cannot get the send email working at all. I have followed your instructions to the letter but it still fails with the default mail error.
I tried even using 64 bit IE but the thing hangs now.
Can you help please?
Thanks
John Duffy
Diane Poremsky says
It's possible the CRM wasn't designed to work with the newer Outlook versions. Are you using 32 or 64-bit Office? It may work with 32-bit.
Phil says
Hi Eileen,
I have followed your instructions but I find that the ...\Mail default key, that we change to Outlook64Bridge, keeps on getting changed back to Microsoft Outlook.
Can you advise please?
Thanks,
Phil
Diane Poremsky says
Are you using a registry cleaner?
Eileen Shukaitis says
I keep getting the error message. I have checked to make sure I have 32-bit and Outlook is set as my default. Any other suggestions?
Diane Poremsky says
What are you trying to do when the error comes up? Are you using Outlook 2013? Many applications won't work with it without an upgrade.
Mark Hale says
Diane,
I do not have a Default Programmes link in my Control Panel ??
Diane Poremsky says
Are you using a category view? Try one of the icon views or type default into the Search Control Panel box.
Delaine says
Hi Diane,
I need to get help using Outlook as my primary contact manager and learn to use all of the features of the product for managing contacts, categories, groups, folders, reminders, calls, etc. I am an advanced user of Outlook, but there are things I don't understand about the contacts portion. Do you offer paid training programs via the internet, phone, webinars, etc? Or one on one packages?
Diane Poremsky says
I do offer one-on-one assistance using GoToMeeting. You can contact me at diane [at] slipstick.com for more information.
John Yoder says
Your third suggestion in your list is to chose Outlook from the list of programs, but I don't see Outlook in the list, so I can't chose it as the default.
Diane Poremsky says
To clarify we are on the same page, the dialog looks similar this this one: https://screencast.com/t/mvuO23Ydr ?
Dave Walkiden says
I have been chasing this problem for about a week, trying all the suggestions here but none worked. in the end it was an add-in in outlook created by Adobe Acrobat Pro. I just un-ticked it in the add-ins options and it worked first time. Hope it helps someone else. Dave