On some Windows devices with both eM Client and Microsoft Outlook installed, Outlook keeps showing this message:
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.
When you click OK or close it, the error window reappears. It seems to have started after eM Client 11 was installed or updated, but the issue is a bug in specific versions of Outlook/MAPI.
How to fix it
Before you start, shut down both eM Client and Microsoft Outlook.
Option 1: Enable legacy MAPI registration
This fixes the error in most cases. You can apply it with our registry file or by hand. Both have the same result.
Method A: Use our registry file (recommended)
- Download the fix here: AlwaysUseLegacyMapiRegistration.reg
- Double-click the downloaded file.
- If Windows asks whether you want to allow the app to make changes, click Yes.
- When Registry Editor asks you to confirm adding the information to the registry, click Yes, then OK.
- Start Outlook and check whether the message still appears.
Method B: Create the registry value manually
- Press Windows + R, type regedit and press Enter.
- Go to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\Mail
- Create a DWORD (32-bit) value named AlwaysUseLegacyMapiRegistration and set its value to 1.
- Close Registry Editor, start Outlook and check whether the message still appears.
Option 2: Use the extended registry file (if Option 1 doesn't help)
If the message still appears after Option 1, this file goes a step further. It:
- Sets Microsoft Outlook as the default Simple MAPI mail client, replacing the packaged (MSIX) mail registration.
- Turns on AlwaysUseLegacyMapiRegistration for both 64-bit and 32-bit applications.
- Removes any per-user mail client override, so the system-wide setting above is applied.
- Download the fix here: DisableEmMapi.reg
- Double-click the downloaded file.
- If Windows asks whether you want to allow the app to make changes, click Yes.
- When Registry Editor asks you to confirm adding the information to the registry, click Yes, then OK.
- Start Outlook and check whether the message still appears.
Please note
We have observed that Option 1 fixes most cases of this error, but not every single one. If it doesn't help, try Option 2.
If one of the registry fixes worked once but the error comes back after some time, for example, after a Windows or eM Client update, simply run the same file again.
Unfortunately, MSIX installation will reset the registry each time, so if you need to keep using both eM Client and Outlook, you will need to re-run the registry file after every update.
Still seeing the message?
If the error persists after trying Options 1 and 2, please contact our support team at [email protected] and include:
- Your version of eM Client from Help > About
- Your version of Microsoft Outlook (for example, Outlook 2019, 2021, 2024 or Microsoft 365)
- Any add-ins or plug-ins you use in Outlook (for example, calendar or contact sync tools)
- A screenshot of the error message