1889377 - Thunderbird is not set as the default mail client in the Windows Default Apps menu (application)

Status: NEW

(Thunderbird :: OS Integration, defect)

Description

[Vlad Lucaci, Thunderbird QA (:vlucaci)]

Attachment: Default Thunder.gif

Found in

• 115.9.0(20240314154241)

Affected versions

• 124 (20240312201328)
• 125 .0b3(20240401173510)

Tested platforms

• Affected platforms: Windows 10, Windows11
• Unaffected platforms: macOS 14, macOS 13, Ubuntu 22

Steps to reproduce

1. Launch Thunderbird.
2. Go to Settings.
3. Search for System Integration.
4. Click on the Check Now... button for the default mail client option.
5. Select the Set as Default button.
6. Click on any mailto: hyperlink.

Expected result

• Thunderbird is opened in foreground with the Compose window focused.

Actual result

• Thunderbird is not opened in foreground with the Compose window focused.
• Thunderbird is not set as the default mail client in the OS's Default Apps menu.

Regression range

• I do not think that this issue is a regression. I went as far back as 68.0a1(20190331095131) from 2019 and it reproduces with the same repro steps.

Additional notes

• The workaround for this issue is that you can manually set Thunderbird as the default mail client in Default Apps.
• For Windows 11 , only MID links are set to open with Thunderbird (MAILTO, .wdseml and .eml are NOT)

Comment 1

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Likely one or more of https://mzl.la/4aHCaAH

Comment 2

[Anje]

I'm on Windows 10 OS

I'm not so certain this is a specific Thunderbird issue. It may have something to do with MS Windows OS itself.
An internet search shows many issues with Mailto and Send-to not using the default email client and whilst you will find Thunderbird mentioned you will also find same issues for Outlook, Mail, emclient etc.

I've been helpging to fix this qsort of issue for a very long time.
People who use eg: MS Office and want to use 'Send to' email client often find Thunderbird does not open despite being set up as default program.

The following resetting of registry key is required.

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Clients\Mail
• 'Start' > 'Run' > type: regedit

Locate this registry entry:

• HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Clients\Mail
• on right side double click on 'Default'
• Enter 'Mozilla Thunderbird' in 'Value Data'
• click on 'OK'

Re Mailto
Default Programs >Associate a file type or protocol with a program

Protocols:

• MAILTO needs to be set as Thunderbird.
  But advise checking what mailto is using in browser settings as it may point to something else.

Comment 3

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Matt, you have experience in this area?

Comment 4

[Matt]

(In reply to Wayne Mery (:wsmwk) from comment #3)

Matt, you have experience in this area?

Not recently, but by clicking on the default mail client and changing it to Betterbird and then use settings Thunderbird to check now nothing changed in the Windows user interface. Clicking your name in Bugzilla and selecting mail opened the default mail client as Betterbird until I manually changed it, so I think we can say this is confirmed.

Interestingly, when I opened the windows default apps, Betterbird is shown for mail but Thunderbird was shown for individual functions. So I think the issues with system integrations may be wider than just the topic of this bug.

This draft has been waiting for me for a number of days. Today I noticed that Thunderbird has no association with VCF files, nor is in an option to check contacts. So I think the whole windows integration thing needs urgent attention. From the correct registration of MAPI to the various file/Link associations and the original basic defaults for Mail News, RSS and Chat functions which this bug casts into doubt as well.

Comment 5

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

Thanks Matt. What version of Thunderbird did you use?

Comment 6

[Wayne Mery (:wsmwk)]

A few other bug reports https://mzl.la/3GmTq4G
The last one fixed was in version 91 - Bug 1696218 - Thunderbird displays the dialog for default application after each startup

Comment 7

[Matt]

I used V128 and whatever daily version I have installed at the time. Which was probably 139a1

I would give details from the update history, but the update history in My current daily is broken it does nothing when details is clicked until you close the dialog and then it opens a tab for each click on the details button pointed to https://www.thunderbird.net/en-US/

Thunderbird Version 140.0a1
Build ID 20250517100834

Oh, I misunderstood the details link it opens the release notes instead of the install log for the release, how disappointing. But the daily one is still broken, as it does not do that it open the Thunderbird site home page.