Choosing any app that I want as default in Windows 10

As of recent updates, I am unable to select any app outside of MS's "suggested apps" as my default app. In my particular case, I am trying to make the default app for JPG and PNG files Internet Explorer. However, although I am able to select IE by using "Open with... > Choose another program" and selecting IE and ticking the "always use this app" box, next time I open a JPG or PNG file, it will open with Photos, and Photos always remains the default.

There are only a few other options it allows me to choose that actually work, such as MS Paint, but I want IE as my default.

I tried going into "Default apps", but under "Photo Viewer" I'm only given Photos, GIMP, Paint, and Paint 3D as options, as well as "Look for an app in the app store"."

Choose default apps by file type" displays IE, but when I choose it, it either doesn't change, or selects another program that it prefers, depending on which computer I'm using. (I'm having this problem on multiple computers running Windows 10).

I don't really understand "Choose default apps by protocol", but clicking on the ones that are set to Photos don't give me any options other than Photos and the App store.

In "Set Defaults by App", choosing Internet Explorer only presents me with one option, "Manage", and clicking that sends me to "File type and protocol associations" for IE, which I can't find a way to add anything to.

Can someone please help me fix this? Thanks.

The build on both of the computers that I'm having the issue with is 17134.345. Version 1803.

dalchina said:

This seems related to a particular update CU KB4462919... experienced by some but not all, and may be related to having certain programs installed.

Lizzie Jo PC 11 said:

The build on both of the computers that I'm having the issue with is 17134.345. Version 1803.

Then you do have the CU KB4462919 dalchina referred to...
Cumulative Update KB4462919 Windows 10 v1803 Build 17134.345 - Oct. 9 - Windows 10 Forums

If I uninstall it, is there a way to block it from installing again? Also, is there anything else important in this update that I'll be getting rid of?

Are you sure that it is this update that causes this to happen, and that uninstalling it will get rid of it?

If there are any alternatives that anyone can think of, that would be great too.

Thanks for the help everyone. dalchina, uninstalling the update you mentioned seems to have resolved the problem, and I was able to block the update using wushowhide tool.

I wish there was a more permanent fix, as I suspect future updates may cause the problem to rearise, but this will do for now. Thanks again.