Can Not Set Firefox as Default Browser


  1. Posts : 63
    Windows 10
       #1

    Can Not Set Firefox as Default Browser


    I've been able to set Firefox as my default browser before, but recently after reinstalling FireFox, Wi10 is simply not allowing me to set a default browser at all (other than default - Edge).

      My Computer


  2. Posts : 13,847
    Win10 Version 22H2 Pro and Home, Win11 Pro and Home
       #2

    BuzWeaver said:
    I've been able to set Firefox as my default browser before, but recently after reinstalling FireFox, Wi10 is simply not allowing me to set a default browser at all (other than default - Edge).

    My Win7 that Upgraded to Win10 retained most of the default programs settings including Firefox. I checked my Win10 Insider Preview and using Control Panel, Default Programs successfully set Firefox as the default.
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 2,799
    Linux Mint 20.1 Win10Prox64
       #3

    You can try the link below. It was the same problem as yours.
    Firefox - Windows 10 Forums
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  4. Posts : 63
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thanks guys. TopGun's method worked, however if you're control panel is set to Categories, you'll want to change the View By to large/small so you can more easily find the Default Programs selection.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #5

    Hi from Win 8 on, programs (not just FF) are not allowed to set defaults from within the program. Unfortunately, mostly (VLC player being one exception) you don't get any warning. Defaults have to be set outside the program -
    - from Settings
    - from the Control Panel
    - using Open With.

    Note too that you may wish to check the association of HTTP and HTTPS in the Control Panel, Default Programs, Associate a File Type.. is set correctly. I've found previously this needs to be set manually for embedded URLs.
      My Computers


  6. Posts : 5,452
    windows 10 Pro ver 21H2 build 19044.1348
       #6

    BuzWeaver said:
    Thanks guys. TopGun's method worked, however if you're control panel is set to Categories, you'll want to change the View By to large/small so you can more easily find the Default Programs selection.
    Since you have the answer and your problem is solved, please mark it as Solved so that others with the same question will know there is an answer here.
    Thank you.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    Windows 10
       #7

    Hi,

    Thanks to everyone involved.

    I found a new twist to this, I think I did anyway.

    I had the same problem but I was trying to set Firefox as my default browser on a second Microsoft login on this PC. I mean a guest login, not the administrator's.

    So I couldn't open the Control Panel and if I ran Firefox as administrator it just logged me into my main Firefox account on my main, ie administrator's, login. (Which I set as default there without any problems earlier).

    In my case Firefox didn't even appear in the default browser settings options list. It was just not there although other non Edge browser options were, eg. Chrome.

    Turned out that under 'Settings - Apps - Default Apps' there's a clickable 'set defaults by app' option. It was easy to choose Firefox once that had loaded.

    Hope I haven't just repeated something someone else said earlier in the sister thread about this and that this is helpful to someone.

    Cheers.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 42,634
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 3
    win10
       #9

    all garbage - a) I copied chrome registry settings and made this file:

    (newfirefox.reg)
    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE]
    @="FIREFOX.EXE"

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\Capabilities]
    "ApplicationDescription"="FIREFOX.EXE delivers safe, easy web browsing. A familiar user interface, enhanced security features including protection from online identity theft, and integrated search let you get the most out of the web.It's fast, stable, and easy to use. Browse the web more safely with malware and phishing protection built into FIREFOX.EXE."
    "ApplicationIcon"="C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe,0""
    "ApplicationName"="FIREFOX.EXE"

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\Capabilities\FileAssociations]
    ".htm"="FirefoxHTML"
    ".html"="FirefoxHTML"
    ".shtml"="FirefoxHTML"
    ".xht"="FirefoxHTML"
    ".xhtml"="FirefoxHTML"
    ".webp"="FirefoxHTML"
    ".pdf"="FirefoxHTML"
    ".svg"="FirefoxHTML"

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\Capabilities\Startmenu]
    "StartMenuInternet"="FIREFOX.EXE"

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\Capabilities\URLAssociations]
    "ftp"="FirefoxHTML"
    "http"="FirefoxHTML"
    "https"="FirefoxHTML"
    "irc"="FirefoxHTML"
    "mailto"="FirefoxHTML"
    "mms"="FirefoxHTML"
    "news"="FirefoxHTML"
    "nntp"="FirefoxHTML"
    "sms"="FirefoxHTML"
    "smsto"="FirefoxHTML"
    "tel"="FirefoxHTML"
    "urn"="FirefoxHTML"
    "webcal"="FirefoxHTML"

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\DefaultIcon]
    @="C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe,0""

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\InstallInfo]
    "HideIconsCommand"=""C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\uninstall\\helper.exe" /HideShortcuts"
    "ShowIconsCommand"=""C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\uninstall\\helper.exe" /ShowShortcuts"
    "ReinstallCommand"=""C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\uninstall\\helper.exe" /SetAsDefaultAppGlobal"
    "IconsVisible"=dword:00000001

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell]

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open]

    [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command]
    @="""C:\\Program Files\\Mozilla Firefox\\firefox.exe""


    read it into registry

    THEN - this was the key action:-

    i copied the contents of this key into a cmd file and hit enter

    Computer\HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\InstallInfo ReinstallCommand
    Program Files\Mozilla Firefox\uninstall\helper.exe" /SetAsDefaultAppGlobal

    AFTER THIS firefox appears as one of the installed browsers
      My Computer


 

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