# How do I make MSWord my default word processer again?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-msword-my-default-word-processer-again/216575>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [December 2, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-msword-my-default-word-processer-again/216575 "2003-12-02T21:28:43Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 9:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-msword-my-default-word-processer-again/216575/1 "2003-12-02T21:28:43Z")

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Quite a while ago, I (in a fit of semi-rage after loosing a mega-important paper for school) I downloaded [OpenOffice](http://www.openoffice.org/), a free, open-source office suite, and started using that as my main word processer.

Change of mind. However, it seems to have sort of hijacked me: if I open a document through the ‘documents’ menu or a desktop folder, it automatically opens in OpenOffice (which is not only incompatible with computers at school, but takes a LOT longer to open). Anyone know how to change the default program to MS Word?

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**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-msword-my-default-word-processer-again/216575/2 "2003-12-02T21:36:33Z")

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(The following assumes WinXP - older versions have the same capability, but it’ll be buried on a different menu, so you might have to hunt around!)

Launch Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer). From the toolbar, select Tools, Folder Options. Choose the File Types tab. Scroll down and highlight the entry for DOC, then click Change. Find and select MS Word, and OK out of the open windows.

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**Author:** ![nivlac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/3bc359/32.png) [@nivlac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nivlac)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-msword-my-default-word-processer-again/216575/3 "2003-12-02T21:36:47Z")

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Depends a bit on what computer you’re using. When you ask computer questions you should state the computer brand and operating system that you’re using. If you’re using Windows XP, then just open Windows Explorer (not Internet Explorer!), go to Tools, Folder Options, File Types. Go down until you see the Word file extensions (like DOC) and change them back to use Word instead of OpenOffice.

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**Author:** ![Early\_Out](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Early\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Early_Out)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-msword-my-default-word-processer-again/216575/4 "2003-12-02T21:48:13Z")

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Great minds think alike, **nivlac** , right down to the admonition about not opening Internet Explorer instead of Windows Explorer! Wow!

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**Author:** ![NinjaChick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/71c47a/32.png) [@NinjaChick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NinjaChick)\
**Post date:** [December 2, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-make-msword-my-default-word-processer-again/216575/5 "2003-12-02T22:19:37Z")

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Huh. That simple, I guess. Thanks to you both.

Got it fixed, don’t really need this thread anymore - mods, could you close this up maybe?