How to set your default programs

In this short tutorial we will show you how to set the default programs that Windows will use to open certain files or protocols. This can be very useful especially when you install similar programs on your PC and you want to open certain things with an application and others with a secondary application.

In Windows 10, click the small search icon (magnifying glass) in the bottom-left corner of the screen and type: “Default programs” and then hit enter.

Windows 8: If you’re using the modern metro interface, then just start typing “default programs” and you should soon see the icon for the program. If you’re using the desktop version, then take your cursor to the top-right corner of the screen, menu opens and you can search for the program there.

Windows Vista and Windows 7: In the Start Menu search box type the word default and then click on the first result.

Start Menu

The Default Programs main window will open and you will see four options.

Default Programs

Click on the Set your default programs link.

Default Programs

After a short Loading… screen you will see a list with all the programs that you can configure.

Default Programs

Here you can set a program as default for a specific file type, extension or protocol. Let’s pick Internet Explorer as an example. Click on it and on the right side of the window you will see a small description of the program. Lower, there is a note that informs you if the program is set as the default for all the file types and protocols it can open.

Default Programs

As you can see, for this example, Internet Explorer is set as default for 3 out of a total of 9. If you want to set this program as default for every file type, protocol or extension it can open, click on the Set this program as default link.

Default Programs

When you have finished, click on OK.

If you want to edit what file types a program will open by default, select it and then click the Choose defaults for this program link.

Default Programs

A new window will open where you can set the program associations.

Default Programs

Here you can see all file types, extensions and protocols that Internet Explorer can open by default. If you want Internet Explorer to be the default for a specific extension or protocol, check the appropriate box right next to it. After you have made your selections click on Save and then on OK.

Related articles:
How to customize AutoPlay
How to set program access and computer defaults
How to open files using a different program than the default
How to add and remove Windows Vista features
Add/Remove Programs – nowhere to be found?
How To Clean Up & Enhance The Right-Click Context Menu

30 thoughts on “How to set your default programs”

    • heres how its done boys
      if any1 is wondering, i figured out how to allow firefox to get on the list. Reinstall firefox. Next go on internet explorer and get the downloader or:
      http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/products/download.html?product=firefox-2.0….

      Next, when it asks you to install standard or custom, pick custom and leave the checked marks things alone. At this point, mozilla should be on the list. (make sure to have the programs set as custom not non-microsoft or microsoft). Now, uninstall firefox and install the standard way. Now if you are wondering why you click a link on AIM or MSN and it goes internet explorer. select firefox on the default programs and say set as program as default. that will allow the protocols to change. Now go on the internet one and see what defaults it has. For me it was 3/9, html,mhtml, and url. Now go back to the default programs page and click the second thing changing assosiate something something with a program. Now those programs that internet explorer has, manually set them to firefox. Now reboot your computer and this should work.

      Sorry if it didnt but it worked for me =]

    • I need to add a program to
      I need to add a program to the list, when getting pics from my cam it does not show up in the box and i dont know how to export the pics to that program

      • Eudora as Default Email Program
        I use Windows Vista and want to use Eudora which I have installed as my default email program but it is not on the list of options

    • Adding programs to the list
      Hi…

      If you’re referring to the new tutorial at https://www.wintuts.com/set-program-access-computer-defaults that sort of doesn’t really answer the question… Not for me, anyway.

      Sure, you can “enable” and “disable” access to Firefox, Opera and Internet Explorer there, but I don’t see that you can add a program to the list.

      I have quite the collection of browsers, and “Firefox”, “Opera” and “Internet Explorer” is not in my eyes as much three programs, as three version trees.

      The other day Windows Vista decided that default: Opera means Opera 7 and Opera 9 stopped being the default. Now I can transfer the “default” status between Firefox and Opera 7, but I want to specify a program that is not in the list – Opera 9. I can only assume the same problem would be there if you have Firefox 2 and Firefox 3 installed side by side. And what about my other browsers that aren’t even listed?

      I realize that I am not a beginner and thus looking for answers at the wrong place. But this was the closest to an answer I could find on google.

      So, is there some way that we can add (and remove) programs from this list? I won’t uninstall Opera 7 but I won’t have it as my default browser either.

      Thanks for the tutorials, anyway. 🙂

  1. TweakVI
    djb, I know that tutorial doesn’t solve anything, I wasn’t referring to that one. Unfortunately, I didn’t had time to write the tutorial for adding programs to the list, but I did some research, and it seems that the only way you can easy add programs to that list is by using the “TweakVI Ultimate” application, witch is a payed only application (€34.99 / $49.99 / £24.99).

    I’ll keep searching for a simple and free way of adding programs to the list and then I’ll write a tutorial.

  2. Ave!
    Yes, please I’m another person who would be very keen to discover if there is a non-$$ way to add programs to the list. I see lots of people asking that question in various forums, but no answer as yet!

  3. I KNOW HOW TO DO IT!!!
    if any1 is wondering, i figured out how to allow firefox to get on the list. Reinstall firefox. Next go on internet explorer and get the downloader or:
    http://www.mozilla.com/en-US/products/download.html?product=firefox-2.0.0.11&os=win&lang=en-US

    Next, when it asks you to install standard or custom, pick custom and leave the checked marks things alone. At this point, mozilla should be on the list. (make sure to have the programs set as custom not non-microsoft or microsoft). Now, uninstall firefox and install the standard way. Now if you are wondering why you click a link on AIM or MSN and it goes internet explorer. select firefox on the default programs and say set as program as default. that will allow the protocols to change. Now go on the internet one and see what defaults it has. For me it was 3/9, html,mhtml, and url. Now go back to the default programs page and click the second thing changing assosiate something something with a program. Now those programs that internet explorer has, manually set them to firefox. Now reboot your computer and this should work.

    Sorry if it didnt but it worked for me =]

    • Alternative…
      Load up the “Associate a File type or protocol with a program” instead of “set your default programs”.

      Now you can sort by program used. Find all the things that are set to open in IE and you can now manually set them to something else if you want. You’ll find more things on that list than the other, so you might be able to address a certain issue directly.

  4. Control PanelProgramsPrograms and Features
    i cant get a shortcut on my desktop to open word documents or word for vista at all how do i find this quickly and open it from my desktop or start menu is it differnet to the word program i used to use when i had my old pc which used windows 2000 professional. since i write a lot of documents this is very anoying i have had this new laptop for a monthand cannot add my old documents or convert them just want a shortcut to open word and close and save it at will plese help

    • How to make a program shortcut in Vista
      Left click on Start button,
      Right click on your desired program and
      then select Send To.
      You will notice a selection to create a desktop icon.

  5. Adding FileZilla to Default Programs
    How do I add FileZilla to the Default Programs? I want it to hand the FTP protocol (e.g. links like ftp:someserver.com/pub), but it doesn’t show up, and I can’t browse for it. (This control panel doesn’t allow you to browse for programs for protocols, only for file types.)

  6. Problems with Default
    Apparently I did somthing wrong, because for all my programs, the default program they open with is the same. I don’t have a clue how to fix it. Any idea whats wrong?

  7. NOT ALLOWED to change preferences(windowes 7)
    Awesome tutorial, however, I am NOT ALLOWED to change preferences(windowes 7) which are automatically selected in what is “Set your default programs” panel….I can either select all or keep whatever was there selected for me by programs when installed. Have any clue on how to change that option or those have to be completely uninstalled what consequently means to loose as well all my video and audio equipment(I assume) !!? It got really tricky after installing video converter vlc as one doesn’t allow me to even create video files as pleased etc…just unbelieved. I would appreciate if you can think of something and give me hint. Thank you.

  8. Associating e-mail with Firefox
    I am trying to figure out how to associate my Yahoo mail account to Firefox because right now, if I try and contact someone from within Firefox, I get a pop up error message that says I have no email associated with the program. When I went into Default Programs, Yahoo Mail was not a listed choice.

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