You can change the default apps in Windows 11. This means you can assign a file type, link type, or category to another app and use it to open the app.
You may prefer a particular app over the default app that comes with Windows 11. For example, you prefer to use a third-party browser rather than Microsoft Edge.
In addition, some apps are better suited for certain tasks or file formats than others. You may want to use a different app for a specific task, such as opening a certain type of file.
Certain third-party apps offer more features or customization options than the default apps that come with Windows 11. For example, another photo viewer lets you edit or organize photos in a way that better suits your needs.
Changing the default apps in Windows 11 helps you personalize Windows 11. There is also an option to reset the default apps. This is recommended, for example, if you have linked a file type to the wrong app.
Change default apps in Windows 11
To get started, open settings. Then click on “Apps” in the left menu and then on “Standard apps”.
You can then search at the top for the app whose default app you want to change or search the list.
If you click on a particular app, you will see all the file extensions assigned to that app.
In this example I am using the “Photos” app because it involves multiple file extensions and is a clear example.
Suppose you want to assign another photo viewer to the file type “.jpg”, then look for “.jpg” in the list. You search for “.jpg” because JPG files are opened with the “photos” app by default. In this example we will change this file type to another app.
Click the link sign to the right of the file type.
You will now be asked how you want to open the link from now on. You can of course continue to use the standard app, but by clicking on “more apps” at the bottom you can select another app from the list.
If the app is not in the list, navigate all the way down to the “Find another app on this PC” link.
An open window will now appear where you can select the executable file (“.exe”) to open this file type.
The file type is now linked to a new standard app.
If you go back to the “default apps”, you will see additional settings at the bottom under the “related settings”.
This way you can link a specific file type to an app. You can also change a link type to a default app and reset the default apps. This will restore all default associations to an app as Microsoft has set it. An example; the web browser is reset to the default browser Microsoft Edge.
I hope to have informed you with this. Thank you for reading!
Also read:
I want to change the jpg file in Windows 11. There is no jpg file in “standard apps photos”. what to do?
Hello, then you have probably already linked JPG to another app. Find this app in the list and then change “.jpg” to a new app.
If necessary, you can restore the file extension and run it again: https://www.pc-tips.info/tips/windows-tips/bestandstype-associaties-herstellen-in-windows-11/
Another way is to right-click on a jpg file and then choose “Open with”. Select the new app to open the file. Good luck!
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