Set Windows Live Mail as default email program in Windows 7 / 8 / Vista / XP

If Windows Live Mail comes pre-installed on your computer, it is automatically set as the default email client, but can change as soon as you get a new application that can handle email (they tend to set themselves as the default, either automatically, or by having a checkbox enabled in their installer). This tutorial explains how to change the default mail handler from within Windows Live Mail, which nearly always does the trick; but we'll also show you how to manually pick it through the Control Panel in Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, and Windows XP.

Change the default email client from within Windows Live Mail

Click on the Windows Live Mail menu (top left button), and go to Options > Mail:

Make sure that the General tab is selected at the top: the last section, "Default Messaging Programs", shows to "Make Default" buttons - if Windows Live Mail isn't the current default email program, the button will be clickable (see screenshot). Click on the one next to "This application is NOT the default Mail handler": If it is already the default, you'll see "This application is the default Mail handler" with a disabled (grayed out) Make Default button - as happens once you clicked on the button. As test, click on this email link: a new Windows Live Mail message window should open.

Tip: when Windows Live Mail starts without being the current default, it will show a confirmation dialog. Clicking Yes will restore it as the default. Leave the "Check this setting when I start Windows Live Mail" checkbox checked, so that this operation is automatically performed whenever you launch the application. 

If it worked, Windows Live Mail is now your default! Otherwise, read on.

Make WLM the default mail handler through the Control Panel

Below are instructions for Microsoft's last four operating systems. When you are done, click this test email link: a new email window should open in Windows Live Mail.

Windows 8

• Swipe from the right edge of the screen, to the left.
• Tap on "Search".
• Type "default" and tap on "Default Programs" on the left:
• Tap "Set your default programs".
• Flick to scroll to "Windows Live Mail", and tap on it.
• Tap "Set this program as default", and close the Control Panel.

Windows 7 and Windows Vista

• Open the start menu and type "default" in the search field.
• Click "Set your default programs" under Control Panel.
• The Control Panel opens: scroll and select "Windows Live Mail" on the left.
• Click "Set this program as default" on the right.
• Click OK; you can close the Control Panel.

Windows XP

• Open the start menu and click "Set Program Access and Defaults".
• Click on "Custom" in the window that opened.
• Under "Choose a default e-mail program", click "Windows Live Mail" and OK.