Integrate Thunderbird and Firefox

By default Firefox does not open mailto links in Thunderbird and Thunderbird does not open e-mail embedded web links in Firefox. They need to be registered as protocol handlers in each other's config files before they can pass URLs to one another. Another option is to register a default URL handler on the system level with gconftool (or gconftool-2).

Making Firefox aware of Thunderbird
This can be done from within Firefox, or by editing the user.js file.

Using Firefox
The first time you click a mailto link, Firefox should ask what program should be used to open it. Then you may enter the full path to Thunderbird (or any other e-mail client for that matter).

Alternatively, you can edit the config file directly by entering about:config into the address field. Locate the preference name network.protocol-handler.app.mailto or add it if it does not exist. Then set the value to the full path to Thunderbird, e.g

Editing Manually
You may also edit the config file by hand. Open in the text editor of your choice (be sure Firefox is not running when you do this). Then add or modify the line:

to point to your Thunderbird path.

Making Thunderbird aware of Firefox
Again, this can be done within Thunderbird or directly in the config file. But, you can also configure the URL handlers on the System level.

Using Thunderbird
Open Preferences in the Edit menu. Go to the Advanced section and under the General tab, choose Config Editor. Locate and modify or add the following preference values, substituting your own paths as necessary: network.protocol-handler.app.http network.protocol-handler.app.https To handle FTP links as well... network.protocol-handler.app.ftp

Editing Manually
Close Thunderbird if it is running and open in your favorite text editor. Then add or modify the lines:

according to your paths.

The above is also true for other protocols like rtsp for RealPlayer or webradio stations and similar those might also need "network.protocol-handler.external.{ProtocolName}".

On System Level
If you use the Gnome desktop, these two commands will change the default system browser. This will open Firefox to handle URLs clicked from within Thunderbird, unless another protocol handler was registered within Thunderbird:

Troubleshooting
If it doesn't work, be sure that...


 * The most current version of Firefox, Thunderbird and mozilla-launcher is installed
 * No spelling mistakes
 * The paths are correct
 * If you use the binary version of those applications be sure to include "-bin" in your paths