Windows keeps a list of applications that it always uses to open certain types of media, files, or links. Unfortunately, Windows won't automatically set new applications as the default for certain file types when you install them.


To change your default programs in Windows 10, follow these steps:


  1. Click on the Start Menu and then the cog wheel icon to go into the Settings menu

      


      
  2. In the window that appears, click on the "Apps" option
      

      
  3. On the left-hand side, click the "Default apps" tab
      

      
  4. In order to change which application is set as the default for each section, click on the currently selected program, and then select the one you wish to use instead
      


      
  5. Windows will only allow you to change the application for Email, Maps, Music player, Photo viewer, Video player, and Web browser in this section. So, if you want to change something that doesn't fall under these categories like .PDF files, you can instead scroll down and click on "Choose default apps by file type"
      

       
  6. In the list that appears, scroll down until you find the file type you are looking for (this is in alphabetical order), click on the currently selected application, and choose the one you wish to use from the list
     

      
  7. If you're not sure which file type you need to change, but you do know what application you want to set, instead of clicking on "Choose default apps by file type", you can click on "Set defaults by app"
      

      
  8. In the list of applications, click on the one that you wish to change defaults for (this is in alphabetical order), and then click the "Manage" button
      

     
  9. In the list of file associations that appears, you can select the file type that needs to be changed by clicking on the currently selected application, and choose the one you wish to use from the list