In the main Default Apps window, scroll down to the bottom of the sub-menu, and find the “Reset to Microsoft recommended defaults” option. Here, you have many more choices for default actions. Chances are you'll want a traditional desktop app, not a Store app, as the default, though. The search function on the Taskbar can search the web in addition to your computer. As an example, you can see below that the Edge browser is already set to look out for any links that contain the HTTP or HTTPS protocol, as well as files ending in .htm or .html. However, these searches will still appear inside Bing. To choose which apps launch which types of media or link by the type of file, select the “Choose Default Apps by File Type” option. Click the Reset button, and any alterations you’ve made to the options above will be undone in an instant. These choices are General items, Documents, Pictures, Music, and Videos.

Ben is a Deputy Editor and the Onboarding Manager at MakeUseOf. Here’s how to configure which programs open which files, links, and protocols in the Windows 10 OS. However, Microsoft has locked this to always use Bing inside Edge. To change this, just scroll down to “.mkv” on the left, and once selected, choose the corresponding application on the right that you’d like to set as the default. Examples of protocol configurations include actions like a specific keyboard command launching into the Windows Search feature, links that contain content from MSN channeling into Windows apps, or .zip files being extracted via the stock archive reader instead of third-party software like WinRar or 7Zip.

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Looking to reset all Windows 10 settings to default? In case you've never thought about default programs before, the concept is pretty straightforward.

You can change your default programs back to the "Microsoft recommended defaults" at Settings > Apps > Default apps, but that doesn't change anything else. Most users shouldn't need to change these settings often. To learn more, have a look at our guide to the Windows 10 Settings app and what you must do after installing Windows 10. Default programs are necessary since many file types can be opened by more than one program. For more information on using the Windows 7 Default Programs tool, view the FileInfo.com Default Programs Help Article. RELATED: Beginner Geek: 7 Ways You Can Change Default Applications and File Associations in Windows. Windows gives you the option to create a local account during setup, but you can delete your Microsoft login and use a local account if you change your mind later. On Galaxy devices, the second option to the top is “Default applications,” which is the one you want. These relationships between programs and file extensions are also called "file associations." However, what's more useful for most people is clicking the current language followed by Options.

PSA: Watch Out For This New Amazon Email Phishing Scam, How to Message a Facebook Friend From Instagram, How to Pair Two Google Assistant Nest Speakers for Stereo Sound, How to Remove Edge Browser Tabs From Alt+Tab on Windows 10, © 2020 LifeSavvy Media. If you don't want to use a Microsoft account to log in, dislike Bing search baked into the OS, and hate Edge, you'll be happy to know you can change all of these. Click an app to see others installed on your system that can take its place, then select the one you'd like to set as default. If the file opens in Microsoft Word, then Microsoft Word is the default program. Remember to review these settings again after major Windows 10 updates, as they can sometimes change. If you'd prefer to use Google or another search engine, do the following: You can find options to change the keyboard layout, language, and other related options at Settings > Time & Language on both the Region and Language tabs.

Swap between keyboards anytime using the Win + Space shortcut. If you want to make things easy, all you’ll need to do is click “Set this program as default”, after which Windows will automatically set that program as the go-to for any protocols, links, or files it’s designed to open on its own. If you want to dig in and get more particular about these commands, you can click the “Choose defaults for this program” option, which will take you to this prompt: Here you’ll find a list of all the protocols and extensions that the app has been coded to recognize on its own.

You’re free to pick and choose from these at your own discretion, in case you have multiple web applications that you’d like to spread responsibility around to based on personal preference or daily working requirements. 12 Cool Things You Can Do With iPhone iMessage Apps, 4 Online Resources for Budding Voiceover Artists, Want to Add News Headlines to Your Website or App? On LG handsets, hit the overflow button in the top right corner, then “Configure apps.” On Huawei phones, tap “Default app settings” at the bottom of the screen.

Make sure every type of file listed here has your preferred browser selected. Windows 10 has a lot in its Settings menu that we didn't explore here. All Rights Reserved. Microsoft has made a lot of changes to the way we manage our applications for the release of Windows 10, but thankfully there isn’t anything too confusing about making sure that your files open flawlessly in the programs you want them to every single time. Back in the Default Apps section, you’ll find a second section directly underneath the first option, labeled “Choose default apps by protocol”. Overall, how you choose to organize your app commands is a matter of personal preference, but certain options such as “Default Apps by File Type” can usually tend to be a bit easier to manage for the average everyday user. Make sure your Country or region is set correctly on the Region page to show the proper options, including Windows display language on Language.

Once you confirm your address, you will begin to receive the newsletter. Here you’ll be greeted by a two-tiered menu, the first containing every file type that Windows 10 is designed to handle, and the second with the list of apps you currently have installed on the machine. This is called AutoPlay, which makes it easier to launch removable media. Download Default App Manager Lite.There, you’re done.

Unfortunately, there's no easy way to do this without performing a full reset. You need Mediastack API, The 7 Best Electric Toothbrushes for a Brighter Smile, The 20 Funniest Websites for the Best Humor on the Web, 10 Popular Android Apps You Should NOT Install, How to Clean Your Windows Computer: The Ultimate Checklist, Twitter Is Encouraging Early Voting in the US, Find All Your Mac Screenshots With This Quick Tip, Install Kanbani and Get Total Productivity in Your Pocket, Learn the SEO Blueprint to Rank Highly on Google With This Deal, How to Dual Boot a Raspberry Pi Using BerryBoot, How to Fix the 'DNS Server Not Responding' Error to Get Back Online, Why You Should Stick With Facebook in 2020, 8 Must-Have iPad Pro Accessories for Optimal Productivity. In general, the types of options included here are commands that you would want routed to Windows applications anyway, unless you have a specific need for URL links to launch in separate programs. In computer technology, a default (noun, pronounced dee-FAWLT ) is a predesigned value or setting that is used by a computer program when a value or setting is not specified by the program user. Even with English selected as your language, you'll find everything from international keyboards like Japanese and German to alternate layouts like United States DVORAK. RELATED: How to Choose Your Default Applications on an iPhone or iPad. Click the Chrometana Pro icon at the top-right of your browser and choose. Windows won't automatically set new apps as the default when you install them. Then select a different program in the "Open with:" section of the window. Please confirm your email address in the email we just sent you. If you want to change the default program for all files with the same extension, press the "Change All…" button. Should you get your Windows apps from the Microsoft Store, or use traditional desktop programs? When your computer works the way you want it to, you'll be much more productive. If you find this Default Program definition to be helpful, you can reference it using the citation links above. Join 250,000 subscribers and get a daily digest of news, geek trivia, and our feature articles. "Set this program as default" sets the default app for all file types associated with a particular category. For example, if you double-click a .TXT file in Windows and it automatically opens in Notepad, then Notepad is the default program for files with a ".txt" extension. Upon installing, you'll see instructions for setting your default browser and installing EdgeDeflector, which we've already taken care of.

Windows 10's File Explorer contains several views, such as Details, Large icons, and Tiles. For example, if you double-click a .TXT file in Windows and it automatically opens in Notepad, then Notepad is the default program for files with a ".txt" extension. Join our newsletter for tech tips, reviews, free ebooks, and exclusive deals!