computer forgot default programs for opening files

The next time you open a webpage or a document, or click on a link to send mail, their software runs instead of your previously-configured default. Particularly when installing software, PUPs and malicious software can change things. The problem is that overly-aggressive programs can change defaults without asking. With a click, you can change your default browser or you can ignore the message, and nothing will be changed. You’ve probably run into this when you’re running a second web browser and it tells you it’s not currently the default, and would you like to make it so? Programs can see what the current default for a specific operation is, and they can also set it. Other examples include the default mail program used when you click on a link to send email, or the default program to open a document of a specific type, such as using Microsoft Word to open “.docx” files instead of some other program.

In my case, I have several browsers installed, but Google Chrome is my default browser. It uses the browser that’s considered your “default”. If you’re not using your web browser and you request a webpage - say by clicking a link in a PDF document - Windows knows which web browser to use, even if you have more than one installed. What’s a default program?Ī default program is the program that Windows associates with a specific type of file or action. Now, when an app tries to set itself as default the Windows 10 Settings app is displayed for you to make the change yourself.

In the past apps could set themselves as default without notice. Windows associates default apps to be used with specific types of files, like “.docx”, or perform specific actions, like “browse the web”.

Computer forgot default programs for opening files