Windows 11 keeps resetting my default apps – how can I stop this?

[CNT_735]

Hi all,

I’m running Windows 11 on my laptop, and I’ve noticed that it keeps resetting my default apps back to Microsoft’s own (Edge for browser, Photos for images, etc.). Even after I go into Settings and change them, a few days later they seem to switch back.

I’ve tried:

Setting the defaults through Settings > Apps > Default Apps

Right-clicking files and using Open with > Always use this app

Checking for updates (both Windows Update and app updates)

But the issue keeps happening. It’s not a huge deal, but it’s really frustrating to have to keep reconfiguring things.

Is this a known bug, or am I missing some step to lock in the defaults permanently? Has anyone else run into this and found a fix?

Thanks in advance!

[rproffitt]

I'm deferring to all the prior complaints about this and skipping to the programmatic approach I took. Here's the two commands we can use in a batch file to make it easy to put it back.

From superuser.com "Oct 27, 2021 — Assoc is part of a two command thing. The other part being FType. Assoc maps a extension to a filetype. FType maps a program to a filetype's Open verb."

As this is a programming mostly site, I'll pause here for you research and explore how to use such in a batch file to put it back the way you wish.

[Reverend Jim]

Short answer - you can't. It's not a bug. It's a feature.

Microsoft resets all kinds of stuff, usually when it installs a Windows update. While the assoc command is useful, it associates a file extension to a file type, not a program. For example, look at the following list which is a subset of running assoc with no parameters:

.3g2=WMP11.AssocFile.3G2
.3gp=WMP11.AssocFile.3GP
.3gp2=WMP11.AssocFile.3G2
.3gpp=WMP11.AssocFile.3GP
.AAC=WMP11.AssocFile.ADTS
.ADT=WMP11.AssocFile.ADTS
.ADTS=WMP11.AssocFile.ADTS
.aiff=WMP11.AssocFile.AIFF
.asf=WMP11.AssocFile.ASF
.avi=WMP11.AssocFile.AVI
.cda=WMP11.AssocFile.CDA
.flac=WMP11.AssocFile.FLAC
.m1v=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.M2T=WMP11.AssocFile.M2TS
.M2TS=WMP11.AssocFile.M2TS
.M2V=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.m3u=WMP11.AssocFile.m3u
.m4a=WMP11.AssocFile.M4A
.m4v=WMP11.AssocFile.MP4
.midi=WMP11.AssocFile.MIDI
.mk3d=WMP11.AssocFile.MK3D
.mka=WMP11.AssocFile.MKA
.mkv=WMP11.AssocFile.MKV
.MOD=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.mov=WMP11.AssocFile.MOV
.mp2=WMP11.AssocFile.MP3
.mp2v=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.mp3=WMP11.AssocFile.MP3
.mp4=WMP11.AssocFile.MP4
.mp4v=WMP11.AssocFile.MP4
.mpa=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.mpe=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.mpeg=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.mpg=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.mpv2=WMP11.AssocFile.MPEG
.MTS=WMP11.AssocFile.M2TS
.TS=WMP11.AssocFile.TTS
.TTS=WMP11.AssocFile.TTS
.wav=WMP11.AssocFile.WAV
.wax=WMP11.AssocFile.WAX
.wm=WMP11.AssocFile.ASF
.wma=WMP11.AssocFile.WMA
.WMD=WMP11.AssocFile.WMD
.WMS=WMP11.AssocFile.WMS
.wmv=WMP11.AssocFile.WMV
.wmx=WMP11.AssocFile.ASX
.wmz=WMP11.AssocFile.WMZ
.wpl=WMP11.AssocFile.WPL

These are all files playable by Windows Media Player 11. But that does not mean that WMP will open by default if you double click on any of them.

To see the program associations you have to dig through the registry, and every extension translates into one or more GUIDS which point to other registry entries which can have one or more "Open With" (for context menus), each of which has its own command line with substitutable parameters for actually opening an associated program. I've tried to figure out a way of patching the registry to force the apps that Microsoft keeps resetting and at best I have just managed to totally <rude word> my system.

So all I can recommend is to just bitch and moan about it like I do, and when Microsoft resets them yet again, right click on a file, select your app and click "Always Open".

Another example, nobody uses vbscript any more (it will eventually be removed). I still have one or two legacy scripts but over the years I have been rewriting them in Python because every time Microslft does an update they reset the dedault engine from cscript.exe (command shell) to wscript.exe (Windows shell) so that every output statement (wscript.echo) pops up its own msgbox. So after every update I have to open an admin shell and type

cscript //h:cscript //nologo //s

It's a pain in the ass but one day I will be done with vbscript.

[SCBWV]

If you're brave enough to mess with file type, NirSoft has a free file type manager. It's the last program under DeskTop Utilities. I've used it several times. His stuff seems legit. It will list all the file types and let you edit the actions and more (double-clicking a file type in the upper list allows different editing options than double-clicking an action in the lower list).

[Contesthelper44]

This might be a Windows 11 issue, especially if the defaults change after updates or reboots. Try setting the default apps by file type or protocol under Settings > Apps > Default apps. Also, check if any third-party app is changing your defaults. If the problem continues, try a Clean Boot to find out what’s causing it.

[Reverend Jim]

Every time Microsoft applies an update it screws up my FoxitPDF Reader association in a way that is not easily reset. Now whenever I open a pdf I am informed that Foxit is no longer my default reader. I select Make It My Default, but it never does. The Settings app show it as the default, and the assoc command says the same.

[Michael_216]

I’ve seen Windows 11 behave like this, particularly after major updates or when Microsoft apps are updated. It’s worth checking Settings > Apps > Default Apps again and setting the defaults by file type or link type rather than only choosing the main app.

Also check whether Windows is showing any prompts to reset an app to Microsoft’s recommended defaults. If it keeps happening, try setting the defaults again after a reboot and see whether they remain. I had a similar situation while using alongside other media apps, where Windows occasionally tried to change which application handled certain files.

If you’re using a third-party browser such as Chrome or Firefox, make sure it is fully updated as well. Hopefully one of these steps helps. I’ve had to recheck my defaults after Windows updates too, so you’re definitely not alone.