Default Browser resets tp MS Edge after restart

I am running Windows 10 Pro Version 22H2 Installed on ‎12/‎20/‎2023
OS build 19045.4353
Windows Feature Experience Pack 1000.19056.1000.0

My browser of choice is Opera; however every time I reset my default browser to Opera, the default browser gets reset to MS Edge upon the next restart.

I have previously reported that this happens every time Windows updates, but that is not the case. It resets whenever the PC restarts.

Why does this happen? How can I prevent this from happening?

TIA,
Ken

KenY7744 said:

My browser of choice is Opera; however every time I reset my default browser to Opera, the default browser gets reset to MS Edge upon the next restart.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/...e-8f07946c5db6


Did you set Opera to default by using the Settings app (above) or another method like a popup asking you to change ?

dalchina said:

Exactly how do you do that? (Screenshot please)

Do you have Fast Startup on? See if turning it off changes anything.

Do you have UAC off? (It shouldn't be).

The following is a screenshot of the SETTING/APPS/DEFAULT APPS screen just after I reset it to Opera. (BTW, the same behavior occurs no matter what other browser I set to default - Chrome, EdgeDev, Vivaldi all get switched back to Edge after a restart.



I have also checked the other sections of default apps and confirmed that HTM, HTML, PDF files will default to Opera, or whatever I've set as default.

I went into Control Panel and disabled the Fast Startup option.

I have set the UAC option to the highest level, Always Notify.

I will post again after I restart the PC.

Many thanks,
Ken

After restarting, the default browser was switched back to Edge.

Any other suggestions? I'm getting close to just doing a Nuke & Pave with a spare SSD.