Default Programs - Program Default Associations

How to Set Default Associations For a Program in Vista​

   Information

This will show you how to automatically or manually set the default associations for a program listed in Default Programs in Vista. These associations are the file extension types and protocols that the selected program can open by default.

These Default Programs association settings are a per user setting and not applied to all users.

Here's How:

1. Open the Control Panel (Classic View).​

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2. Click on the Default Programs icon.​

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3. Click on the Set your default programs link. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: It may take a moment to load up.​

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4. Select a Program in the List​

A) Click on the program name in the list, that you want to set the default file extension associations for, to highlight it. (See screenshot below step 6A)​

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5. To Automatically Set All of the Selected Program's Default Associations to it​

NOTE: To set all the default file extension associations for the program to open by default.​

A) Click on Set this program as default. (See screenshot below step 6A)​

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B) Click on OK to apply and close window.​

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6. To Manually Set the Selected Program's Default Associations to it​

NOTE: To only set the default file extension associations that you choose for the program to open by default.​

A) Click on Choose defaults for this program to manually choose the associations for this program. (See screenshot below)​

NOTE: It may take a moment to load up.​

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B) Check the file extension associations you want this program to open by default, and uncheck the ones you do not want this program to open. (See screenshot below)​

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C) Click on Save to apply.​

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D) Click on OK to close window. (See screenshot below step​

6A)​

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That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Associate a Individual File Extension Type With a Program in Vista
• How to Add Back and Set Windows Mail Default Associations
• How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista
• How to Add a Program to Open With in Vista
• How to Restore or Remove Internet Explorer from Default Programs
• Restore Default Vista File Extension Type Associations
• How to Remove a Listed Program in Default Programs for Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Change the Default Program of the "Edit" Context Menu in Windows

 

[Brink]

Your welcome Beanie, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Shawn

 

[vistaquestion]

my "send to mail recipient" is not working. i have followed your instructions and tried making windows and outlook my default for everything. i still have no success. do you know what i am doing wrong? it use to work, but it seems that after an update of some sort, it quit working. how do i get it to work again? thanks!

 

[Brink]

Hello Vistaquestion, and welcome to Vista Forums.

Double check to make sure that Internet Exporer and Windows Mail are both set as the default program with all of their associations set for them as well.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[vistaquestion]

I have done this, but it still does not work.

 

[Brink]

You have mentioned Outlook. What version of Outlook do you have installed? Only the Outlook 2003 and newer versions are completely compatible with Vista.

You might also give the free program Windows Live Mail a try and make it your default program to see how it works for you then.

 

[vistaquestion]

i have outlook 2007.

 

[Brink]

Vistaquestion,

Try using METHOD TWO in this tutorial instead to change the current default program for the MAILTO protocol to the exe file of the program you want for this.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[vistaquestion]

now i no longer have the send to "mail recipient" option when i right click on an image...

 

[Brink]

Check in the Outlook settings to make it the default email client. You should also have the option to select Outlook in Default Programs to.

 

[vistaquestion]

no, none of this has worked... Do you know why it would work for a while and just stop one day. I am thinking that windows installed some sort of update that made it not work now.

 

[Brink]

Not sure why. You might see if doing a System Restore using a restore point dated before this problem may be able to fix it for you.

 

[vistaquestion]

yes, i tried this. my system restore only goes back to 1 month. unfortunately the problem is older than that. i also tried uninstalling an reinstalling microsoft office outlook. that did not work either.

 

[Brink]

The only thing I can suggest at this point is to reinstall Vista.

 

[bjproc]

looks like theres no support for .gif in windows photo gallery, is there not any add-ons for it?

 

[Brink]

Hello BJ,

You should be able to select GIF to be association with Windows Photo Gallery in Default Programs to have it only view the GIF image. It will not be animated while viewing it in Windows Photo Gallery like it would be in Internet Explorer though.



If you do not have GIF listed like above, then this REG file download below will restore the default registry entries for GIF to hopefully return it for you. After you save the REG file to your desktop, just double click on it to merge it to add it to your registry.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[izihuichen]

i'm having a little problem and when i click to set my default programs and choose from the list i'm unable to uncheck anything but i can check

 

[Brink]

Hello Izihuichen,

You may be able to set the default program to open the file extension using this method instead.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/69758-default-programs.html

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[mimi77]

Hi,

This is the first time I am posting here, and I see a lot of useful information.

I tried to search through the postings, but some were old, and I could not post.
My problem is with with Word in Vista. I have Vista Home Premium 64bit. I installed Word in this laptop too, because I just cannot open anything in works anywhere besides home.

I am trying to set Word as default association program for.wps files, but Word does not even show up as a program choice.

I am so frustrated with Vista. Every time I write something I have to manually save as in word format. Last night I forgot, and I had a presentation to do today and could not open a file.

Please help. I would greatly appreciate it.
Thanks

 

[Brink]

Hello Mimi, and welcome to Vista Forums.

On older posts like that, you will just need to check the box at the bottom of the reply window first to acknowledge that it is a older post. That's all.

You should be able to right click on the .wps file and on Open With to select the Word exe file to have always open that type of file.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[mimi77]

Thanks for your reply!

However, when I try to use Open With, the only options I get is Works Word processor, or Word Converter. And when I browse for programs Word does not show up as an option.

Thanks again