Change which programs Windows 7 uses by default

Applies to: Windows 7

A default program is the program that Windows uses when you open a particular type of file, such as a music file, an image, or a webpage. For example, if you have more than one web browser installed on your computer, you can choose one of them to be the default browser.

Open Default Programs by clicking the Start button

and then clicking Default Programs.

In Default Programs, you can:

Show all

Set your default programs

Use this option to choose which programs you want Windows to use, by default.

If a program does not show up in the list, you can make the program a default by using Set Associations.

Open Default Programs by clicking the Start button
and then clicking Default Programs.
Click Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
Click the file type or protocol that you want the program to act as the default for.
Click Change program.
Click the program that you want to use as the default for the file type you selected, or click the arrow next to Other Programs to show additional programs. (If you don't see Other Programs, or your program is not listed, click Browse to find the program you want to use, and then click Open. If no other programs are installed that are able to open the file type or protocol, your choices will be limited.)

If you don't see the program you want to use as the default, click the arrow next to Other Programs to see a list of programs available on your computer.
Click OK.

Note

You cannot change an association for a file type or protocol and leave it blank or disassociated. You must select a new program.

The options you set here only apply to your user account. Your choices won't affect other user accounts on this computer.

Associate a file type with a program

Change AutoPlay settings

Set default programs for this computer

Last Updated: 31-Aug-2016