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How to Change Default Apps and File Type Programs

Summary: Learn how to change default applications in Windows 10. Adjust default apps for web browsing, music, video, email, and more using Windows settings.

This article applies to This article does not apply to This article is not tied to any specific product. Not all product versions are identified in this article.

Instructions

 

Table of Contents

  1. How to change the default applications within Windows 10
  2. How to associate default apps to file type

How to change the default applications within Windows 10

You may want to change the default app Windows 10 uses to perform specific actions on your computer. For instance, Microsoft Edge is set as the default web browser during the installation or upgrade to Windows 10. To change the default web browser and other default applications (such as the music player, photo player, map program, or video player), follow the steps below:

NOTE: Depending on your version of Windows 10, the menus below may appear different on your system. The menu selections should still be the same to access the setting.
  1. Click Start Windows 10 Start button and select Settings to open the settings menu, then select Apps (Figure 1):

    Windows 10 settings menu
    Figure 1: Select Apps from the Settings menu

  2. Select Default apps from the Apps settings menu (Figure 2):

    Windows 10 default apps menu
    Figure 2: Select Default apps

  3. Click the specific app that you want to change from the list of categories. Then click the app that you prefer as the default from the Choose an app menu that appears (Figure 3):

    Windows 10 choose app
    Figure 3: Select the app that you want to change from the list of Default apps

Other Reference:

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How to associate default apps to file type

For more individual control over default app association, Windows 10 also allows for setting default apps to open specific file types. In the Default apps menu, click Choose default apps by file type at the bottom of the screen. Click to highlight the file extension you want to change in the Name column, then click the corresponding Default app to have this app open the particular file type:

Windows 10 default apps by file type

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Affected Products

OptiPlex, Latitude
Article Properties
Article Number: 000128257
Article Type: How To
Last Modified: 13 Feb 2025
Version:  7
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