# How do I switch my default video player

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-switch-my-default-video-player/980248>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 23, 2023, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-switch-my-default-video-player/980248 "2023-02-23T17:45:18Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-switch-my-default-video-player/980248/1 "2023-02-23T17:45:18Z")

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Once again Microsoft has attacked my computer. This isn’t the forum for me to fully describe this situation.

Focusing on the issue at hand, one of the ways they “fixed” my computer was switching my default video player over to Media Player. When I want to watch a video file on my choice of software, I have to open up a window and select that program each time. How do I switch it back so my preference is the default?

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**Author:** ![Railer13](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/railer13/32/9742_2.png) [@Railer13](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Railer13)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-switch-my-default-video-player/980248/2 "2023-02-23T17:50:40Z")

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This explains it better than I can:

[How to change default Video player in Windows 10 - SimpleHow](https://www.simplehow.tips/a/36/how-to-change-default-video-player-in-windows10#:~:text=In%20Settings%20App%2C%20select%20%22System,Choose%20an%20App%22%20selection%20window).

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**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-switch-my-default-video-player/980248/3 "2023-02-23T17:55:12Z")

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Click on the search icon (lower left, next to your start menu) to open up the search bar and type in “default apps”. Scroll down to Movies and TV and click on it to change your preferred player.

> [@Railer13](#):
>
> This explains it better than I can:

On my system, Default Apps is under Settings → Apps and not under Settings → System. Searching for default apps will find it no matter where it happens to be on your system.

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**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\
**Post date:** [February 23, 2023, 6:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-switch-my-default-video-player/980248/4 "2023-02-23T18:15:22Z")

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Okay, I’ve got it switched back. Thank you for your help.