# How do I change my default picture viewer? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 7, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483 "2006-11-07T23:14:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483/1 "2006-11-07T23:14:09Z")
Every time I open a picture on my desktop, Photoshop opens because it’s somehow set as my default picture viewer. I know it’s something simple, but I forgot how to change it so my default is Microsoft Picture Viewer. Anyone? ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483/2 "2006-11-07T23:15:11Z")
Right-click, ‘open with’, ‘choose program’, check ‘always use the selected program…’ ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483/3 "2006-11-07T23:17:52Z")
Many different ways. Here’s the easiest (IMHO): Hold shift and right click on an image file. On the appearing menu, select “Open With…” Chose the MS Picture Viewer or whatever you want. Before clicking ok, check the box that says “Always use the selected program to open…” Click OK and you’re done. Note: you’ll need to repeat this process for all file types so find yourself a nice .JPG, .GIF, etc. Also note: you can do this with any file type such as MP3s, WAVs, TXT, DOC, etc. ---
**Author:** ![Jayrot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/3ec8ea/32.png) [@Jayrot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jayrot)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 11:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483/4 "2006-11-07T23:19:21Z")
I guess WinXP doesn’t require a shift-right click to access the Open With… Still, it’s a nifty trick to know since it does add a few options to the right click context menu. ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483/5 "2006-11-07T23:20:11Z")
Also, in Control Panel, go to Folder Options - File Types if you want to find all of the ones Photoshop has claimed for itself. ---
**Author:** ![diggleblop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@diggleblop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/diggleblop)\ **Post date:** [November 7, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483/6 "2006-11-07T23:25:59Z")
thanks, guys ! ---
**Author:** ![CurtC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/ce73a5/32.png) [@CurtC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CurtC)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 3:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483/7 "2006-11-08T03:42:58Z")
Microsoft Picture Viewer?!? You don’t use [Irfanview](http://www.irfanview.com)? Reeealy? ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2006, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-change-my-default-picture-viewer/379483/8 "2006-11-08T05:43:28Z")
[QUOTE=CurtC] Microsoft Picture Viewer?!? You don’t use [Irfanview](http://www.irfanview.com)? Reeealy? [/QUOTE] Preach it brother … 😃