How to Change the Default Applications Within Windows 10

This article provides information on how to change the default apps in Windows 10. Under default apps settings, you can change the default email client, maps, music player, photo viewer, video player, and web browser.

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 wish 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 as well as other default applications (such as the music player, photo player, map program, or video player), follow the steps below:

1. Click on Start and select Settings to open the settings menu, then select Apps (Figure 1):

   
   Figure 1: Select Apps from the Settings menu

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

   
   Figure 2: Select Default apps

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

   
   Figure 3: Select the app you wish to change from the list of Default apps

Additional Reference:

• Change default programs in Windows 10

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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 on Choose default apps by file type at the bottom of the screen. Click to highlight the file extension you wish to change in the Name column, then click on the corresponding Default app to have this app open the particular file type:

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