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How to Change Default Apps in Windows 11

Applies toWindows 11
6 min fix Updated 8 Aug 2026

By , 10+ years in IT support and helpdesk How these guides are checked

Quick Answer

Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for the file type (like .pdf), and select the app you want to open it with.

Checked against Microsoft Learn - Windows release health, Microsoft Learn - end of support and retirement and between 5 Aug 2026 and 12 Sep 2026. Nothing published in that period has been linked to this guide.

Summary ​

This article explains how to change which app opens by default for specific file types, links, and protocols in Windows 11. Common examples include switching your default web browser, PDF reader, or email client.

Before You Start ​

  • Windows 11 (any edition).
  • The app you want to set as the default must already be installed.
  • No admin rights are required.

Instructions ​

1. Change Default Apps by App Name ​

Use this method when you know which app you want to make the default for all its supported file types.

  1. Press Windows + I to open Settings.
  2. Click Apps in the left-side navigation pane.
  3. Click Default apps.
  4. In the Search apps box at the top, type the name of the app you want to configure (e.g., Google Chrome, Adobe Acrobat, Mozilla Firefox).
  5. Click the app name from the results list.
  6. A list of file types and link types associated with that app appears (e.g., .htm, .html, .pdf, HTTP, HTTPS).
  7. Click the file type you want to reassign (e.g., .pdf).
  8. A prompt appears showing the current default. Select the new app you want to use and click Set default.
  9. Repeat for each file type or link type you want to change.

Verification: Open a file of the type you changed (e.g., double-click a .pdf file). It will now open in the app you selected.

2. Change the Default App for a Specific File Type ​

Use this method when you want to change which app opens a particular file extension, without browsing by app.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Scroll to the bottom and click Choose defaults by file type.
  3. In the search box, type the file extension you want to change (e.g., .pdf, .txt, .csv).
  4. Click the file extension from the results list.
  5. Select the app you want to handle that file type and click Set default.

Note: A file that opens in nothing at all is a different problem. Windows ships without the code to read some formats, so no app in this list can handle them — .heic photos from an iPhone are the common case, and they need a Microsoft Store extension rather than a new default: How to Open HEIC Photos on Windows.

3. Change the Default Web Browser ​

Setting a new default browser requires updating several link and file types at once.

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Search for your preferred browser (e.g., Google Chrome or Mozilla Firefox) and click it.
  3. At the top of the app's settings page, look for the Set default button next to the message "Make [App] your default browser." Click Set default.
  4. This assigns the browser as the default for HTTP, HTTPS, .htm, and .html in one step.
  5. Optionally, scroll down and reassign .shtml, .xhtml, .svg, or .webp if you want the new browser to handle those as well.

Verification: Click any link in an email or document. It will open in your newly selected browser.

4. Change the Default Email Client ​

Windows sends every mailto: link to whichever app holds that association.

If you prefer a different email app for mailto: links:

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Search for the email app you want to use (e.g., Outlook, Thunderbird).
  3. Click the app name, then click the entry next to MAILTO.
  4. Select your preferred email client and click Set default.

5. Reset All Defaults to Microsoft Recommended ​

A full reset is the fastest way out of a tangle of half-changed associations.

If your defaults have become misconfigured and you want to start fresh:

  1. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
  2. Scroll to the very bottom of the page.
  3. Click Reset next to Reset all default apps.
  4. All file type and link associations revert to Microsoft's recommended defaults (Edge for browsing, Outlook for email, Photos for images, etc.).

Verification: Open a .jpg file or click a web link to confirm Microsoft's default apps now handle them.

Troubleshooting ​

INFO

Changing default apps only affects your user profile. Other users on the same device keep their own defaults. Your organization may also enforce certain defaults via policy — if a setting reverts after you change it, ask IT to confirm which default-app policy applies to your device and whether they can allow your preferred app for that file type.

Symptom / ErrorPotential CauseSolution
Default reverts after rebootGroup Policy or organization policy overridesThe association is pushed by Group Policy. Ask IT to update the assignment, naming the file type and the app you need.
App not listed in the selection promptApp is not properly installedReinstall the app from the Microsoft Store or your company's software portal, then retry.
"Set default" button missing for browserWindows 11 build is outdatedInstall pending Windows updates via Settings > Windows Update, then retry.
File still opens in old appSpecific file type not reassignedReturn to Default apps, search for the exact file extension (e.g., .pdf), and set it individually.
Cannot change defaults for certain file typesIT policy restrictionSome organizations lock file associations. Ask IT to unlock the specific extension you need, and to install the app first if it is missing from the list.

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Frequently asked questions

Why do my PDFs keep opening in Microsoft Edge?
Windows sets Edge as the default PDF viewer after certain updates. You can change the default app for .pdf files to Adobe Acrobat in your settings.
Do I need admin rights to change my default apps?
No. Changing default apps is a user-level setting that does not require IT approval or administrator credentials.