Selecting the default application for a file type in Windows 10

Selecting the default application for a file type in Windows 10

Selecting the default application for a file type in Windows 10

Date updated: 11/5/22
Applies to: Windows 10, Windows 10 Applications

Selecting the default application through the Windows Settings

1. Go to the search box in the bottom left of your screen.
             

2. Enter 'default apps' into the search box and open the Default Apps Settings.
         

3. In the Default Apps settings, scroll down and select 'Choose default apps by file type'.
            

4. On the left side of your screen, see the listed file types to choose from. Scroll down the list until you find the file type you wish to change the default application for changes to.
            

5. Select the 'Choose a default' option if the file type does not already have a default application. Select the existing application icon if the file type already has a default application. Either option will open a dropdown menu of apps you have installed that can open the file type you have selected. Select the new application you would like to set as your default.
                 

Selecting the default application from a file

1. Right-click a file on your desktop or in your File Explorer. Select 'Properties'.
          

2. Next to the value 'Opens with:', click the 'Change...' button. This row will also show you the current application assigned to open this file.
         

3. From the dropdown, select the application you would like to open this file type with in the future. Click 'OK'. 
           
​


    • Related Articles

    • Finding your default printer in Windows 10

      Finding your default printer in Windows 10 Date Updated: 7/2/23 Applies to: Windows 10 Finding Your Default Printer 1. Go to the search box in the bottom left of your screen. 2. Type 'Printers' into the Start Bar and open the Printers & Scanners ...

    • Setting your default browser in Windows 10

      Setting your default browser in Windows 10 Updated 17/1/22 Applies to Windows 10, Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, other browsers Setting your default browser (Chrome example) 1. Go to the search box and type 'default apps', ...

    • Adding Camera App to Windows 10

      Date Updated: 11/5/22 Applies to: Windows 10 You may have experienced issues with the default Windows 10 Camera App that forced you to uninstall it. The steps below will guide you through the processes needed to reinstall the Windows 10 Camera App. ...

    • Adding OneDrive to File Explorer

      Date Updated: 11/5/22 Applies to: Windows 10 Adding OneDrive to File Explorer 1) Type 'OneDrive' into your Start Bar, and select OneDrive application. 2) Either log in or sign up to OneDrive in the resulting window. 3) The next window will prompt you ...

    • Check/Update your Proxy Settings

      Date Updated: 10/3/21 Applies to: Windows 10, Google Chrome Checking & Updating your Proxy settings (through Chrome) 1) In any Google Chrome window, select the dropdown menu (three dots), and select 'Settings'. 2) In the top search bar, type 'Proxy', ...