Problem setting default browser to any alternative to Edge

clayto · 18 Apr 2016

I have not had a problem setting the default browser, which for some time has been Maxthon. But suddenly (perhaps due to the April update?) not only has Edge taken over, I cannot now find a way to change it. When I go to default apps in Settings I am only offered the choice of Edge or 'look for an app in the Store'. The latter is plainly useless, there are very few browsers in the Store. In Maxthon it is still set as the default, but it just aint so. I do not know how to make the default browser in Edge itself. There is no reference to it in Edge Settings.

I doubt that this is deliberate on the part of MS? If it is I take a very dim view of it!

LovingWindows · 18 Apr 2016

I've never heard of Maxthan before. Perhaps maybe try reinstalling the browser?

clayto · 18 Apr 2016

Maxthon has just been reinstalled, as it was updated about a week ago (one might think that could have caused the problem but it hardly explains why W10 is not allowing a choice: including Chrome, Firefox, etc.). By the way, it is long established and well regarded browser, fast, with good options & extensions, an apps Store, active forum and much else but it is true, for some reason it gets little attention.)

clayto · 18 Apr 2016

As I have lost the ability to click a link, say in an email, and have it open my browser and the url, I decided for the time being I would set Edge as the default. I found I could not do it, in Setings / default apps. There is no response from clicking. So something is going wrong with default settings.

dalchina · 20 Apr 2016

Hi, I understand you're not able to set programs as default using Settings- presumably this didn't respond when you clicked one:

Problem setting default browser to any alternative to Edge-untitled.png

Do you notice anything else- like Some settings are managed by your organisation e.g. in Settings, Privacy, General? Or right click not responding on the taskbar.. any other symptoms?

If not, that's fine.

Note in passing for now, that 'As I have lost the ability to click a link, say in an email, and have it open my browser and the url,' - requires this to be set here if changing browser, as my (and others') experience shows this is not set by Settings, Defaults, peculiarly.

Problem setting default browser to any alternative to Edge-snap-2016-04-20-13.04.56.jpg

Now you have just installed Maxthon, but it has not appeared in your list of browser options (Like Firefox, Pale Moon in my first screenshot). Also you can't click to select a browser.

I'm wondering if you may have -for whatever reason- a permissions problem so things are not being written to the registry correctly.

Apart from the browser, can you change defaults for anything else or does the same thing happen?

First check for user profile corruption.
Create a new user and see if you can set defaults there and post back.