Choose the programs Windows uses by default

A default program is the program that Windows uses automatically when you open a particular type of file, such as a song, movie, photo, or webpage. For example, you might have more than one photo-editing program installed on your PC. You can choose one of them to be the default program that starts whenever you open a photo.

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Set your default programs

Use this option to choose which programs you want Windows to use as the default. What you choose will only apply to your user account and won't affect other user accounts on this PC.

To set a default program

  1. Tap or click to open Default Programs.

  2. Tap or click Set your default programs.

  3. Under Programs, tap or click the program you want.

  4. Tap or click Set this program as default, and then tap or click OK.

    If you want to choose which file types and protocols a program uses by default, tap or click Choose defaults for this program.

Note

Note

If a program doesn't show up in the list, you can make the program a default by associating a file type or protocol with it.

Associate a file type or protocol with a program

Use this option to fine-tune default programs based on the file type or protocol. For example, you can have all .jpg image files open using one program, and .bmp image files open using a different program.

To associate a file type or protocol with a program

  1. Tap or click to open Default Programs.

  2. Tap or click Associate a file type or protocol with a program.

  3. Tap or click a file type or protocol, and then tap or click Change program.

  4. Tap or click the program that you want to use as the default for the file type or protocol, and then tap or click OK.

    To see additional programs (if available), tap or click More options. If you don't see a program you want to use, you can tap or click Look for an app in the Store or Look for another app on this PC at the bottom of the program list.

Notes

Notes

  • You can't change an association for a file type or protocol and leave it blank or disassociated. You must select a new program.

  • The options you set here only apply to your user account and won't affect other user accounts on this PC.

  • You can only use an email program installed on your PC as the default. This means you won't be able to use a web-based email service as the default email program.

Change AutoPlay settings

You can change which programs to use to open different kinds of media, such as CDs or DVDs. For more info, see AutoPlay: Frequently asked questions.

Set default programs for this computer

Use this option to make a program inaccessible without uninstalling it. For more info, see Set program access and computer defaults.

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