How to Change or Set Default Programs in Windows 11 [Tutorial]

How to Change or Set Default Programs in Windows 11 [Tutorial]

If you’ve updated your PC from Windows 10 to Windows 11, you may have noticed that when you click on a link for a website, a PDF document, or a variety of other file types, you will now be sent to Microsoft’s Edge browser. In its new version of Windows, Microsoft seems to have become especially aggressive in pushing its own apps over the apps that had been installed as defaults before the upgrade. In other words, Edge suddenly became your default browser.

Issues addressed in this tutorial:
set default programs windows 10,
set default programs windows 11,
how to set default programs windows 11

When using Windows 11, the OS keeps track of which apps open which types of files by default. For example, Notepad usually opens TXT files. Here’s how to change those default file associations in Settings.

This tutorial will apply for computers, laptops, desktops, and tablets running the Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating systems (Home, Professional, Enterprise, Education) from all supported hardware manufactures, like Dell, HP, Acer, Asus, Toshiba, Lenovo, Alienware, Razer, MSI, Huawei , Microsoft Surface, and Samsung.

[rustyyb]

How can I add the .jpg and .mp4 file types? They are not an assigned type on my new Win11 install.

[Felix_EN]

How do I force them to stay like this after a reboot?

[Nick]

In Windows 11 everything is in a different place compared to Windows 10. It took me a few days to get used to it.👍

[soulaesthete]

This easier and more sensible way to choose a default app is only available in Windows 11 Pro, because the button to "Set default" after searching for an app is not an option in Windows 11 Home, you have to associate the file type with the app you want to make as the default.