Setting default programs in Windows 10. Standard applications for file types

We all have our favorite apps that we use all the time: a web browser, a music player, text editor etc. They also store other necessary things that we value. By default, our files open in them, but...

One day you will discover that the document you were working on, say, in Word, has been loaded into another program. It does not have the usual functions, there are no settings, and the text structure itself does not look the same. Why did this happen? But because the application that was associated with Word documents changed for some reason. Fortunately, not forever. Let's talk about how to configure default programs in Windows 10 and associate them with specific file types to quickly and easily fix such errors. And also what to do if the setting is not saved.

What are the default programs in Windows 10?

You can find out which program is associated with a specific file type by looking at the icons of the latter, as, for example, in the screenshot below.

The types of objects that the operating system itself uses - cmd, js, lnk, exe, inf, vbs, etc., are strictly associated with Windows components. If this is changed, some system functions will be disrupted. For example, when you click on any shortcut on the desktop, the player will launch Windows Media or Internet browser Explorer, not what you expect.

File associations custom applications It is relatively safe to change - system functions do not crash as a result. In case of an error, you can easily return everything to its place.

2 Easy Ways to Reassign Defaults

• Go to Start and run the system utility " Options» (click on the gear icon).

• Go to the section " System».

• Then - in " Default programs».

• Find the item " Web browser", click on it and select Opera.

In the case of Opera, everything is simple, but what to do if the necessary software is not in the “Options”? Let's imagine another situation: we are faced with the task of making the default browser Google Chrome, which, judging by the screenshot, is not in the list of available options.

• Right-click on Start or press the Windows + X key combination and select “ Control Panel».

• Let's go to the section " Default programs».

• Next - in " Setting programs...».

• From the table of all applications installed on your computer, select Google Chrome and click “ Use».

3 ways to change file and program associations

First:

• Right-click on the file that you want to unlink from one program and link to another. Click " Open with" And " Select another application».

• Find in the list " Use» the required program. If it is not displayed (that is, it is not suitable according to the Windows developers), click " More applications" If it is not there and additional list, click " Find another application installed on your computer"and, using Explorer, specify the path to the exe file of the desired program.
• Return to the previous window and check the box " Always use to open such and such files».

Second:

• Go to Start and run " Options" Go to the default settings section. Click on the " Choice standard programs for file types».

• In the left column of the window that appears next, find the object of interest. Opposite it, on the right, it is indicated how it will open. Click on the icon (in my example - Opera) and select another program.

Third:

• Open the familiar Control Panel section where we designated Google Chrome as the primary web browser. Go to " Matching file types or protocols...»

• Find the extension of the desired object in the left column and click the “ Change program».

What to do if Windows 10 does not save the setting

The solution was found in the spring of 2016. To fix Microsoft errors released another update - KB3140743. After installing it, user settings no longer disappear.

Today, this problem is usually faced by people who, for one reason or another, have refused to install Windows 10 updates. I think it’s clear how they can get out of the situation - just update the system to latest version or, as a last resort, limit yourself to installing only KB3140743.

Ability to switch to dark theme was one of the most anticipated Windows functions. After all, with a lack of light such color scheme Less eye fatigue. Previously, it was possible to set a black interface background to the tenth version of the OS. But the developers listened to users and finally added a simple official method in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update.

When you open Settings → Personalization → Colors, you will see an option at the bottom that says “Select a default app mode.” If you activate dark mode here, the background Windows interface will partially switch to black. The same applies to some standard and third party programs from the Windows Store.

Separately, you can enable a dark theme in Edge browser. To do this, click on the three dots on the right top corner program window, then click “Options” and under “Select a theme” select “Dark”.

By the way, if you prefer Google Chrome, you can download the dark theme from the Google store and even install .

Sitting at the computer in the dark, you may have noticed how quickly your eyes get tired. This is because at night the display becomes too bright for a room without sunlight.

Microsoft has taken care of this problem in the Windows 10 update Creators Update added a special monitor color mode "". It can be configured in Settings → System → Display.

When this mode is active, the system changes the temperature of the colors so that they do not tire the eyes in a dark room.

As using Windows residual files and other garbage accumulate in it, which clogs hard drive and slows down the OS. There are many third party utilities that solve these problems. But until recently there was no standard solution.

After updating to Windows 10 Creators Update, a message appears in the system, which clears the device memory. You can activate and configure it in the “Settings” → “System” → “Storage” section under the “Storage Control” item.

Windows 10 has a set of standard applications with which you can work with music, videos, web pages and other files without third-party software. For each file type, the system defaults to one of these preinstalled programs (or warns that it is not supported). That's why when you click on a downloaded music track, for example, Windows immediately plays it in the Groove player.

But if you want to replace the standard player, browser and other programs with third-party ones, this is most conveniently done in a special settings section. Go to Settings → Apps → Default apps and here select the programs you have installed that Windows should use by default for various tasks.

The password assigned to the account Windows entry, protects the user's personal data and settings. This function will be relevant for you if unauthorized persons have physical access to your computer. Of course, if you try hard, you can bypass such protection. But in most life situations it will be quite enough.

You can install it, remove it, or reset it if you suddenly forget, in the “Settings” → “Accounts” → “Login Options” section.

By default, when you launch Explorer in Windows 10, a window opens quick access to frequently visited folders and recently viewed files. Perhaps this option suits you completely. But in previous versions OS "Explorer" immediately opened the "This PC" section, and there are users who are used to this.

If you are one of them, or it is simply more convenient for you to immediately see local drives in Explorer, you can return old look. To do this, open File Explorer, click View → Options, and under Open File Explorer for, select This PC.

Windows has long allowed you to hide files and folders, making them invisible. This makes it convenient to hide directories with important content so that you don’t accidentally delete anything you need. You can make an object visible or hidden using context menu: just right-click on a folder or file, click “Properties” and check or uncheck the box next to “Hidden”.

In addition, for convenience, at the end of the name of each file, the system can display its extension: .exe, .png, .docx or the letter designation of any other format.

By default, Windows 10 does not show items that have been hidden by developers or the user, as well as file extensions. But you may need to display them. For example, to get to hidden folder or see the photo format.

To enable the display of hidden objects or file extensions, open Explorer, click View and check the boxes: Hidden Items or File Name Extensions.

Windows 10 displays notifications like a typical mobile OS. To ensure that you are not distracted by anything unnecessary, you can configure them in the “Settings” → “System” → “Notifications and actions” section. Here you can choose what type of messages will appear on the screen, and set notification settings separately for each application.

In this section you can also select buttons for quick action, which will be displayed in the notification panel. They allow, for example, instant activation night mode display, adjust its brightness, or add notes in OneNote.

Errors in the system or third-party software, as well as incorrect user actions, can cause Windows to malfunction.

Fortunately, there is a mechanism that returns the OS to its normal state. We are talking about a recovery service. It creates a copy of important system components every time you update Windows, update a driver, or install new program, and saves it to your hard drive. In most cases, you will be able to restore normal system operation from such backups (restore points).

To go to the service settings, enter Windows search“Recovery”, click on the result and click in the “System recovery settings” window that opens.

Once on the “System Protection” tab, select your system disk(usually drive C), then click on the “Configure” button and enable system protection. After this, specify the amount of disk space that will be allocated for storing backup copies. The more space, the more points recovery will be at your disposal. When it ends, new points will replace the old ones. After everything click OK.

Now, if the need arises, you can by returning to the “System Protection” tab. To do this, there is a “Restore” button here.

But keep in mind that backups contain incomplete Windows image, but only important system files.

10. Screen calibration

Windows has a built-in display calibrator that can help you improve color quality. The program will display simple step by step instructions. Having done everything as she tells you, you will do it in the optimal way. No special knowledge is required for this.

To launch the calibrator, enter the word “calibration” in the system search and click on the found element. After this, follow the system prompts.

11. Action log settings

The Windows 10 April 2018 Update added the Activity Log feature to the system. With its help, you can see at any time what documents and web pages you interacted with in recent days, and return to working on them. Moreover, the log can display actions not only from the current computer, but also from all other devices connected to your account Microsoft.

To set up your activity history, go to Start → Settings → Privacy → Activity History. Check "Allow Windows to collect activities from this computer" if it was not enabled by default. Then check the box next to “Let Windows sync my activities from this PC to the cloud” if you want data about your current PC to appear on other devices connected to it.

When you're done, click on the icon near the Start icon on your taskbar. A timeline will appear where you can see previously opened documents.

12. System update options

Windows can be annoying with offers to update at the most inopportune times. And sometimes it reboots your computer when you least expect it. To insure yourself against such cases, set up the so-called “Activity Period”. This is the time of day during which you usually work on your computer. Windows will not update during these hours.

To configure the “Activity period”, open the “Start” section → “Settings” → “Center” Windows updates" and click "Change activity period". Specify your computer work schedule and save changes.

In the operating room Windows system 10, in addition to the already familiar methods, new options have appeared for selecting default applications. In this article we will look at all the available options for making such a setup.

Select the default program through the context menu

To do this, right-click on the file of the desired extension and in the window that opens, expand the “Open with” section. If you need to run it once this file using another application, then simply select the appropriate one from the list. But if there is a need to select another program that will launch the file, then open the “Select another application” item. A window will appear with a list of various applications. Here you can select another application that will open our file by default. If you don’t find the one you need among the list of programs, you can expand it by clicking on “More applications”.

Couldn't you find the application you need in the more extended list? Then use the search for applications on this computer by clicking “Find...”. Next, through Explorer we look for the necessary program and its file to launch.

Please remember that this method of selecting applications only works for classical programs.

If a file with the required extension is not assigned to any program, then when you try to launch it, the same window will open in which you can select the default application.

Select default applications through System Settings

Go to the Start menu and open System Settings. In the next window, select System and go to the “Default Applications” tab. There is a reset button here. It can be useful if the applications that were selected as the main ones do not work correctly, or cannot work with the necessary files. By clicking on it, you can return all settings to their original form.

For example, let's try to change the program for opening pictures and photographs. We click on the name of the program that was already selected and in the list we click on another application that is more suitable for us.

But when no program is selected for suitable files, you can select the standard value, the system itself will select the appropriate application. If this does not happen and there is no the desired program, a message will appear asking you to open the Store and search for and install the desired application there.

To determine the appropriate program for any extension, at the bottom of the window, click on “Select standard applications for files.”

A list of applications that are on your computer will appear. Choose from it any suitable one to open the desired type of file.

Here you can define the protocols that will be used in programs as the main ones. At the bottom of the window there will be a link like this for “Select standard applications for protocols.”

By clicking on it, you will open a window in which you can select applications that will interact with the protocols. You can find even more in the old Control Panel different settings for comparison necessary extensions files and protocols with applications. To open it, press two Win+X keys at the same time, or right-click on the Start menu. A small menu will open in which you select “Control Panel”. Next, open the “Programs” section and click on “Default Programs”. Next we will need to click on the link “Matching files and protocols with programs.”

The new Windows 10 has many features, small and large. Windows 10, like other versions of this OS, allows you to install many applications for processing various types files (for example, Windows Media Player and VLC for audio/video). Having several applications installed to work with files provides flexibility, but has certain inconveniences; each time you have to choose which application to process the file.

But you can easily bypass this and set default applications for handling files in Windows 10. Once the default applications are set, you will no longer be prompted to select an application with which to open the file. And most importantly, you can set default programs both traditional and Metro style.

How to set default apps for files in Windows 10?

Setting default apps to handle various files in Windows 10 is quite easy.

Step 1: Open the application PC Settings - PC Settings. In the left column, select Search and apps - Search and applications.

Step 2: Now several more relevant sub-options will appear in the left column. Select an option Defaults - By default.

Step 3: The right column now shows default applications for processing major file types (audio, video, web pages, etc.). To specify (or change) the default application for a specific task/file, simply click on it and select the desired application option. The list of available applications includes both traditional software applications, and applications in a new style. If you can't find the app you need, you can directly search for it in the Windows App Store.

That's it: this way you have specified the default applications to handle all file types.

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