HomeSystemWindows 8

How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8

In Windows 8, there are three ways to set the default program used to open a specific file type. First, you can make a specific program a default program. Second, you can change the default program for a specific file type. Third, you can...
Method 1 of 4:

Choosing a Default Program in the Control Panel

  1. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 1How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 1
    Open the Start screen. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start screen.[1]
    1. If you're using a touch screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen to open the Charms menu, and then touch Start.
  2. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 2How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 2
    Find the Default Programs utility. On the Start screen, in the Search field, type default program, and then press Enter.
  3. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 3How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 3
    In the search results, touch Default Programs to open it.
  4. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 4How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 4
    Find a program you'd like to use as a default. In the Set Default Programs window, in the Programs sidebar, find a program you'd like to set as a default, and then click or touch the program to select it.
  5. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 5How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 5
    Click or touch Set this program as default. This makes the selected program the default program for all of the file types the program can open.[2][3]
    1. Click here for steps on choosing specific file types for a default program.
Method 2 of 4:

Setting a Default Program by File Type

  1. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 6How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 6
    Open the Start screen. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start screen.
    1. If you're using a touch screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen to open the Charms menu, and then touch Start.
  2. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 7How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 7
    Find the Set Associations utility. On the Start screen, in the Search field, type file associations, and then press Enter.
  3. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 8How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 8
    In the search results, touch Make a file type always open in a specific program.
  4. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 9How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 9
    Find a file type. In the Set Associations window, find the file extension for the file type you'd like to change the default program. Click or touch to select it.
    1. In the Current Default column, you can see what program is currently set as the default program for that file type.
  5. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 10How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 10
    Click Change program.
  6. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 11How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 11
    Choose a new default program. If you don't see the program you'd like to use, click More options to see more programs. When you're done, click OK.
Method 3 of 4:

Setting a Default Program in the File Context Menu

  1. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 12How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 12
    Open the Start screen. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start screen.
    1. If you're using a touch screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen to open the Charms menu, and then touch Start.
  2. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 13How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 13
    Open File Explorer. On the Start screen, in the Search field, type file explorer, and then press Enter. Click or touch File Explorer to open it.
  3. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 14How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 14
    In File Explorer, find a file or file type that you'd like to change the default program.
  4. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 15How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 15
    Right-click the file icon, and then click Properties.
    1. If you're using a touch screen, press and hold the file icon until the context menu opens.
  5. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 16How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 16
    Click or touch Open with, and then click or touch Choose default program.
  6. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 17How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 17
    Choose a new default program. If you don't see the program you'd like to use, click More options to see more programs. When you're done, click OK.
    1. If you'd like to change the default for this specific file, but not other files of this type, uncheck the Use this app for all check box.
Method 4 of 4:

Choosing Specific File Types for Default Programs

  1. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 18How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 18
    Open the Start screen. Press the Windows key on your keyboard to open the Start screen.
    1. If you're using a touch screen, swipe in from the right edge of the screen to open the Charms menu, and then touch Start.
  2. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 19How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 19
    Find the Default Programs utility. On the Start screen, in the Search field, type default program, and then press Enter.
  3. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 20How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 20
    In the search results, touch Default Programs to open it.
  4. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 21How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 21
    Find a program you'd like to use as a default. In the Set Default Programs window, in the Programs sidebar, find a program you'd like to set as a default, and then click or touch the program to select it.
  5. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 22How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 22
    Click or touch Choose defaults for this program.
  6. How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 23How to Set Default Programs in Windows 8 Picture 23
    Choose specific file types for the program. In the Set Program Associations window, find the file types you'd like to open with this program, and check the boxes for those file types. Click or touch Save.
5 ★ | 1 Vote
programdefaultfiletouch

You should read it

Maybe you are interested

Windows 8