If you have a modern keyboard, it most likely has a Mail key on the top row which will launch your mail client. I prefer to use this key not only as a means to launch my mail client, but also as a shortcut for switching to it.
Unfortunately, by default, if Outlook is your mail client, hitting the Mail key repeatedly opens multiple copies of Outlook. Fortunately, the fix is easy:
- Launch the Registry Editor by hitting Win+R and typing regedit in the dialog box.
- When the Registry Editor opens, navigate to Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\AppKey\15. (You should see the following value there: Association=mailto)
- From the Edit menu pick New -> String Value
- In Name, type ShellExecute
- In Data, type outlook.exe /recycle
That’s it! You can now hit the Mail key multiple times.
I use Microsoft keyboards but this should hopefully work with other manufacturers’ keyboards as well.
Tip: Don’t install the special Microsoft Keyboard software that came with your keyboard or that is offered to you via Windows Update – it will mess things up.
September 21, 2013 at 11:24 pm
Number 4 above should be:
In Name, type ShellExecute
January 17, 2014 at 2:43 pm
Thanks, it’s been corrected.
November 7, 2013 at 12:57 am
This is such a time saver. Do you know how to make the Web/Home button open Explorer for desktop rather than the immersive Explorer in Windows 8.1?
May 28, 2014 at 3:03 pm
You’re a hero! This was pretty hard to find, thanks a lot for the tip.
June 4, 2014 at 10:10 am
Sorry. Fail. Didn’t work for me.
June 4, 2014 at 10:27 am
Charlie, I’ve personally tested this on Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 with Outlook 2007. What version of Outlook are you using?
November 5, 2015 at 3:32 pm
How do you get this working on Outlook 2010?
November 5, 2015 at 7:17 pm
I just tried it on Outlook 2010 and it worked fine for me. Are you seeing any problems?
February 3, 2015 at 5:37 pm
This worked for me…
New shortcut location:
“C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office 15\root\office15\OUTLOOK.EXE” /recycle
Pinned new shortcut to the taskbar.
February 27, 2015 at 3:47 am
This works great, thanks very much