# setting default programs in Windows

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-default-programs-in-windows/122955>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [August 8, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-default-programs-in-windows/122955 "2002-08-08T13:49:51Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![regnad\_kcin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@regnad\_kcin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/regnad_kcin)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-default-programs-in-windows/122955/1 "2002-08-08T13:49:51Z")

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I apologize for the level of computer idiocy of this question, but how do you set default programs for windows?

By this I mean how do I set, for example, a particular program to automatically be used when opening a certain kind of file – perhaps a different program from the one presently the default?

Thanks!!

RK

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**Author:** ![Crusoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/49beb7/32.png) [@Crusoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crusoe)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 1:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-default-programs-in-windows/122955/2 "2002-08-08T13:54:20Z")

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Open Windows Explorer.

Select Tools \> Folder Options.

Select the File Types tab.

Highlight the file type and click Change (this is in Windows 2000; I’m sure there is a similar command for other versions).

**Alternatively** , right-click on a file and from the pop-up menu select Open With. When the program list appears, make sure you’ve checked “Always use this program to open these files”.

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**Author:** ![Number](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/number/32/242_2.png) [@Number](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Number)\
**Post date:** [August 8, 2002, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/setting-default-programs-in-windows/122955/3 "2002-08-08T17:38:22Z")

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**Crusoe** is correct, but a couple of quick additions:

You have to hold down the **Shift** key while right-clicking to get **Open With** to appear in earlier versions of Windows.

You can set the default HTML editor, email program, newsgroup reader, Internet call program, calendar, and contact list on the **Programs** tab of the **Internet Options** applet in **Control Panel** (IE5 or later must be installed). Changing the default browser is a little tricky. To switch from IE you have to open another browser and hit **Yes** when it asks if you want to make it the default. To change back, check **Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser** , then open IE and hit **Yes** at the prompt.

Service Pack 3 for Windows 2000 adds a **Set Program Access and Defaults** heading to **Add/Remove Programs**. It lets you choose the default browser, email program, media player, instant messaging program, and Virtual Machine for Java.