How do I set default apps in Windows 11?
Windows 11 has a feature called default apps that determines which app opens a file type by default. For example, when you double-click a .PNG file in Windows 11, Microsoft Photos automatically opens the image because Photos is the default app associated with PNG files.
If you want a file type to open in a different app, you can select a new default app for that file type. For example, if you associate PNG files with Microsoft Paint, they will automatically open in Paint instead of Photos.
There are two primary ways to change default apps in Windows 11:
- Using in Windows 11 settings
- Right-clicking an individual file and selecting
1. Using Default apps
The selection tool is available in Windows 11 settings.
- Open the menu and select .
- From the left sidebar menu, select . Then, select .
- Scroll down to and select .
- In the search box that appears, enter the file type whose file association you want to change.
- Click the button that appears under the file type's name. (The button shows the file type's current default app.)
- In the menu that appears, select your new default app. Then, click .
After you click , the new default app you chose will appear beneath your file type. Now, when you double-click a file of that type, it will open in that app.
2. Right-clicking a file
If you want to avoid the Windows 11 settings menu, you can change a file type's file association while opening a file of that type.
- Right-click a file of the type whose association you want to change. Then, select .
- Select the app with which you want to open this file type.
- Select the checkbox.
You must select the checkbox to permanently change a file type's file association. If you do not select the checkbox, the file type will open in the app you selected only this once. - Click .
After you click , your file will open in the new default app you selected, and its icon will change to that app's file type icon.