February 6, 2023

Windows 11 Default Apps: How to Change Them and What to Do If You Can’t

Reading Time: 4 minutes

Changing Windows 11’s default apps is a little trickier than in Windows 10, but it’s still possible.

If you are not satisfied with any of the default apps assigned by Windows, you can change them to your preferred options. This process was quite simple in Windows 10, but Microsoft has made it a bit complicated for Windows 11 users.

In this guide, we will discuss the method of changing the default apps in Windows 11 in detail. We have also discussed several troubleshooting methods later in this guide that you can try if the default apps fail to change.

How to Change the Default Apps in Windows 11

Changing the default apps in Windows 10 is quite simple. You can access the Default Apps section of the Settings app and replace the current default app with your preferred option.

In Windows 11, this method is slightly different. You must set a program default for all the registered file types and links relevant to it since there isn’t a Set default for all option available.

Below, we have listed different ways of changing the default apps in Windows 11:

1. Choose the ‘Open With’ Option

The easiest method of changing the default apps option is by using the ‘Open with’ option in the context menu for files.

Here is how you can do that:

Right-click on the targeted file. For instance, an image file that you want to open with an app other than the default Photos app.
Choose Open with > Choose another app from the context menu.
Now, in the following dialog, choose the app you want to set as the default option. If you cannot find the targeted app in the list, choose Look for another app on this PC and then select the app.
Click on Always use this app to open files and click OK. This should set the selected app as the default preference.

2. Use the Settings App

The next thing that you can do is access the Default Apps option and choose the preferred app from there.

Follow these steps to proceed:

Press the Win + I keys together to open the Windows Settings.
Choose Apps from the left pane.
Click on Default apps.
Next, choose the app that you want to set as default. You should now see all the file types and link types the app is registered with.
If you want to choose a program as the default for all its registered file types and links, you’d need to click each type and choose the desired application in the following dialog.

This should set the app as the default option for the selected file and link types. However, if you ever reset Windows 11 to its default state, you will lose all these settings.

3. Use File Properties

You can also change the file properties of the targeted file to open it with a new default app.

To proceed, follow these steps:

Right-click on the targeted file and choose Properties from the context menu.
Head over to the General tab and click on the Change button associated with Opens with.
Now, choose the desired app and click OK.

What to Do if You Cannot Change the Default Apps in Windows 11

If you are unable to change the default apps in Windows 11 despite trying the different methods mentioned above, it could be due to the following reasons:

The app that you are trying to set as the default option is dealing with a corruption error or is not installed correctly.
A group policy setting in the system is preventing you from changing these configurations.
You do not have sufficient permissions to make changes of this level in the system.
The app is not compatible with your system.

In this case, ensure that your user account has administrative rights and that the app you are trying to set as default is compatible with the system. Here are some more steps you can follow to resolve the problem.

1. Update Windows 11

If you’re running an outdated version of Windows, you may be experiencing problems due to incompatibility issues. Windows 11 needs to be updated to the latest version in this case.

Here is how you can do that:

Press the Win + I keys together to open Windows Settings.
Choose Windows Update from the left pane.
Now, click on the Check for updates button on the right side.
Install all the pending updates one by one by clicking on the Download & install button and then restart your PC.

Once this is done, follow one of the steps above to change the default app.

2. Reset the Targeted App

If the problem is within the app that you are trying to change, you can reset the program to solve the problem.

Follow these steps to proceed:

Press Win + S keys together to open Windows Search.
Type Powershell and choose Run as administrator.
Click Yes in the User Account Control prompt.
In the Powershell window, type the command mentioned below and click Enter. Replace ‘packagename’ with the name package name of the app that you want to set as default.
```
Get-AppxPackage packagename -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
```
For instance, if you want to change the Photos app, execute the following command:
```
Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.Windows.Photos -AllUsers | Reset-AppxPackage
```
Once the command is executed, check if you can change the default app.

3. Reinstall the App

Lastly, you can try reinstalling the app that you want to set as default. This will eliminate any corruption errors are bugs within the app that are preventing you from setting it as the default option.

Here is how you can proceed:

Press the Win + R keys together to open a Run dialog.
Type control in Run and click Enter.
In the following window, navigate to Uninstall a program.
Locate the targeted app and right-click on it.
Choose Uninstall and follow the on-screen instructions to proceed.

Once the uninstallation is completed, restart the computer and reinstall the app. Hopefully, this time, you will be able to set it as the default option without any problems.

Make Your Preferred Apps Default on Windows 11

The apps set as the default options on Windows are quite user-friendly and efficient. It is possible, however, to change the default preference to a better option if you have found one that suits your system better.

With the methods listed above, you should be able to change the default apps on your Windows 11 system in no time. Nevertheless, keep in mind that in the event that Windows is reinstalled or reset, these options will return to the default configuration.

Ref: makeuseof

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