How to Change Your Default Email on Mac

Mac computers come with built-in email software simply called “Mail”. It is a powerful mail client that can handle multiple emails accounts at the same time. Default email is the email account that the Mail application can automatically use to send and receive emails. But what if you want to change your default email on Mac? Maybe you changed your mail provider or just want to utilize a new email address. Whatever your reason, changing your default email is a straightforward process that can be done quickly and easily.

In this blog post, I will walk you through everything you need to know about changing your default email on Mac. I will address the challenges that you may face and provide tips on how to efficiently and effectively complete this task. Additionally, I will lay out four different methods for changing your default email, highlighting the pros and cons of each option. By the end of this post, you will be able to easily change your default email on Mac and begin using your preferred email address.

Video Tutorial:

The Challenge of Changing Your Default Email on Mac

When changing default email on Mac, perhaps the biggest difficulty is ensuring that your new email client is compatible with the Mail application. While the Mail application can handle multiple accounts and many different email providers, some email providers like Outlook and Yahoo might require some additional assistance to be compatible with the application.

Another challenge you might face is having multiple email accounts, which can lead to confusion if you are not adequately organized. When switching your default email, it may be helpful to sort out all your email accounts to streamline the process.

Things You Should Prepare for

Before you dive into changing your default email on Mac, ensure that you have access to your new email address’ login details. This includes your email address and password. If you do not have this ready before starting, you may have to pause the process to look up your login information and ultimately slow down the task.

Method 1: Using the Mail App Preferences

This method entails changing the default email account using the built-in preferences in the Mail application.

1. Open the Mail app on your Mac.
2. Click on “Mail” on the menu bar, then select “Preferences.”
3. Under the “General” tab, select the new email account that you want to set as your default email address.
4. Ensure to close the preferences window when you finish making changes.

Pros:
– Fast and easy to use
– The native Mail application can handle multiple accounts at once

Cons:
– Not all email providers may be compatible with the Mail application
– Emails may still show from your old default email account after changing your default account

Method 2: Changing Default Email from the Internet Accounts Preference

This method involves changing your default email account through the "Internet accounts" section in the system preferences menu.

1. Click on the Apple menu and choose “System Preferences”
2. Select “Internet Accounts” from the preference menu
3. Locate the email provider that you want to set as your default email account
4. Ensure that the account is checked
5. Close the preferences window.

Pros:
– Changes default email address for all Mac apps that require email
– All email accounts can be managed in one location

Cons:
– Not all email providers may be compatible with the Mail application
– Requires additional steps than other methods

Method 3: Changing Default Email via the Mail Rule

This method involves creating a mail rule that will direct all outgoing emails to the new email account.

1. Open the Mail application and select “Preferences” from the “Mail” menu
2. Click the “Rules” tab and click “Add Rule”
3. Name the rule something like “Default email account”
4. Set the conditions to “Every message” and keep the following section blank
5. Set the action to “Redirect message” and choose the new email account
6. Ensure that the rule is active

Pros:
– Changes default email account for all outgoing emails
– Helpful if you have several email accounts, significant numbers of outgoing emails

Cons:
– Does not apply to incoming emails
– Requires set-up and management of the redirection rule

Method 4: Setting up a New User Account

This method involves setting up a new user account on your Mac and creating a new default email account in the process.

1. Click on the Apple menu, select “System Preferences” and then select “Users & Groups.”
2. Click the lock icon to unlock the settings.
3. Click the “+” button to add a new user account.
4. Choose the type of user account and enter the necessary information.
5. After creating the account successfully, you can set up a new default email account using your preferred email address.

Pros:
– Creates a new user profile, which can provide a fresh start
– Allows for a new default email account

Cons:
– Requires setting up a new user account
– Doesn’t work if you need the existing data or user profile

Why Can’t I Change My Default Email on Mac?

While there are various reasons you might not be able to change your default email account, some of the most common include:

1. The email provider you want to switch to is not compatible with the Mail application.
2. Your new email address is not authenticated.
3. You’ve entered incorrect login credentials for your new email account.

Here are some possible fixes:

1. Check if your email provider is compatible with the Mail app
2. Authenticate your email provider, or contact your email provider’s support team for help.
3. Check your login credentials for errors and try re-entering the information.

Additional Tips

1. Always ensure you have backup information in case your email is lost or you accidentally delete your new account.
2. Regularly organize your mailboxes to keep things in order.
3. Use rules to automatically filter emails into specific folders and avoid unwanted and irrelevant emails.

FAQs

Q: Can I change my default email on Mac for a specific application only?

A: No. Apple Mail is the default email client, and it applies to all applications on your mac that uses email.

Q: Will changing my default email delete any old messages in my account?

A: No. Switching your default email simply means that you will now start receiving inbound emails to the new email address. Nothing is deleted from your old email or messages.

Q: Can I change my default email using a third-party application?

A: If your preferred email provider works with the third-party application, then yes, you can.

Q: What if I want to change my default email back to the original email account?

A: Simply follow any of the methods above and choose the previous default email account.

Q: Why do I need to organize mailboxes regularly?

A: Constantly organizing your mailboxes makes it easier to find important information. Organizing your mailbox will save you a lot of time, especially when handling crucial and urgent emails.

Conclusion

Changing your default email account on Mac is straightforward if you follow any of the above methods. Organizing your email boxes can also come in handy for better email management. Please make sure you have all the requisite login details and organize all your accounts to avoid confusion. You now have all the tools necessary to start using your preferred email address as your default on Mac.