Apps and defaults
Default Mail App
Most people call this which app opens when you tap an email address.
You can set a mail app other than Apple Mail to handle email links and share sheet actions.
This setting is present on your iPhone.
- We have this path on file but have not yet confirmed it against an official source.
Where to find it - iOS 18 and later
- Settings
- Apps
- Default Apps
What it does
Once a supported mail app is installed, tapping an email address or choosing Mail from a share sheet opens your chosen app instead.
What changes
When it is on
Email links open in your chosen app.
When it is off
Links open in Apple Mail.
Should you turn it on?
Good reasons to turn it on
- One inbox instead of two.
Good reasons to turn it off
- Apple Mail integrates with Hide My Email and Mail Privacy Protection.
Battery
No real change
Privacy
Depends how you use it
Performance
No real change
Cellular data
No real change
Storage
No real change
Out of the box: Apple Mail.
What your iPhone needs
- Needs iOS 14 or later
Where this setting used to live
Apple moves settings between releases. This is every location we have on file.
-
iOS 18 and later
Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Mail
-
iOS 14 to iOS 17
Settings > App name > Default Mail App
Questions people actually ask
- How do I change my default mail app?
- On iOS 18 and later, Settings, then Apps, then Default Apps. On earlier releases, open the app's own settings page.
If it is not working
- If the option is missing, the app has not declared itself as a default mail handler.