Links Open in the Background Instead of Bringing Your Browser to the Front

When you click a link in an email, Airmail opens it in your default web browser. In some setups the link opens correctly, but the browser stays in the background instead of coming to the front, so you have to switch to it manually. This has been reported with browsers such as Arc, Safari, Dia, and Flakes, while browsers like Chrome bring the window to the front as expected.

Why this happens

When Airmail passes a link to your browser, it is macOS and the receiving browser that decide whether that browser window is brought to the foreground. Several browsers open new tabs or windows in the background by default, so the window does not automatically become active. This is a system- and browser-level behavior rather than something Airmail controls directly.

What you can try

1. Update Airmail to the latest version from the Mac App Store (App Store > your account > Update), then restart the app.
2. Check your browser's own setting for opening new tabs or windows. Most browsers have an option that controls whether a newly opened tab or window becomes active instead of opening in the background; enabling it usually resolves this.
3. Confirm your preferred browser is set as the macOS default: System Settings > Desktop & Dock > Default web browser. Airmail always hands links to whatever browser is set here.
4. As a quick test, set Chrome (or another browser that activates on new tabs) as your default to confirm the links themselves are being opened correctly by Airmail.

Still need help?

If links continue to open in the background after updating Airmail and checking the settings above, please contact Airmail Support and include your Airmail version, your macOS version, and the browser you are using. This helps us reproduce the behavior and assist you further.

Updated on: 07/05/2026