Can't choose default software / choices won't get saved

Page 1 of 5 123 ... LastLast

  1. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
       #1

    Can't choose default software / choices won't get saved


    I've had this problem a few days where I simply can't set a default browser (or any other default software from the settings) anymore. It let's me to go to the list and choose, say, Google Chrome, but then doesn't save my choice. I can revert to Microsoft's default settings in general, when the choice will stay as Edge. This bugs me the most when clicking on URL links in other software, they open up randomly in both Chrome (which I actively use) and Edge (which is the current default).

    I have tried to set Chrome as the default browser from its own settings, too, but to no avail. Would also very much want to use VLC Player as the default for videos, but Win10 is being a pain in the butt and doesn't let me do it.


    Wondering if anyone else has experienced the same? Trying to google for similar cases was pretty much impossible, at least for me.
    If it's of any help, I'm sporting a Lenovo Y50-70 laptop with Intel Cote i7-4710HQ.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 42,733
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #2

    Hi, just search the forum (use search box above) for (e.g.)
    default programs reset
    file associations not saved

    There are many threads on the topic which has been addressed many times. Do please search and read some.

    In general it's not a problem I've had, but is a problem in Win 10 not seen in previous versions in this way.

    E.g.
    Default apps being reset by Windows - Windows 10 Forums
    https://www.tenforums.com/windows-updates-activation/40373-last-update-caused-all-custom-file-associations-reset-defaults.html


    Clues:
    1. From Win 8 on you can't set defaults from within a program. That is, you can try, but they aren't saved. Only one or two progs give a warning this is not the way to do it.
    2. A recent update was reported and acknowledged by MS to cause defaults not to be saved for some users (not all).
    3. Recently I found that I got notifications in safe mode that 3 default choices (image files) were causing a conflict and the defaults were reset to MS's choice.
    4. Users updating back in November to 10586 found their default choices reset.
    5. People with old versions of a couple of desktop programs find this happening e.g. Winzip
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 5,452
    windows 10 Pro ver 21H2 build 19044.1348
       #3

    RE : set Chrome as default browser
    I am sorry, but you did not clearly describe the method you used.
    At the risk of repetitious, did you do it this way ?.......................
    Start button > Settings > System > left side, Default apps > right side, scroll down to Web Browser > it might say Microsoft Edge > click it > a popup box will show you a list to choose from > select Google Chrome.
    See if this setting will stick.

    RE : VLC as default videos player
    Right click at Start > Control Panel > top right, click View by > select either large or small > select AutoPlay >check the box " Choose what to do with each type of media " > at Videos , click the pointer and choose VLC media player > click Save when done.

    Can't choose default software / choices won't get saved-vlc-default.jpg
    Last edited by davidhk; 08 Mar 2016 at 15:52.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 42,733
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #4

    VLC player is almost the only program I've seen that tells you what to do and that you can't set it as default from within VLC.

    Can't choose default software / choices won't get saved-snap-2016-03-08-20.45.49.jpg

    Settings, System, Default Apps - that's one way.
    Another is Windows key + X, Control Panel, Default Programs
    Another is Rt click a file, Open with, and make sure you scroll down and click set as default.

    Full story:
    Default Apps - Choose in Windows 10 - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 3
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Sorry if this same question has been asked many times already, I seriously didn't find any threads about it I was probably not searching with the right keywords, but thanks for providing me with some now! Apologies. my OS is in Finnish so sometimes finding the right words and terms in English is a bit of a challenge.

    davidhk said:
    RE : set Chrome as default browser
    I am sorry, but you did not clearly describe the method you used.
    At the risk of repetitious, did you do it this way ?.......................
    Start button > Settings > System > left side, Default apps > right side, scroll down to Web Browser > it might say Microsoft Edge > click it > a popup box will show you a list to choose from > select Google Chrome.
    See if this setting will stick.
    I've done exactly this, but it doesn't stick. Doesn't let me choose any of the browsers.
      My Computer


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

    Hannah890 said:
    Sorry if this same question has been asked many times already, I seriously didn't find any threads about it I was probably not searching with the right keywords, but thanks for providing me with some now! Apologies. my OS is in Finnish so sometimes finding the right words and terms in English is a bit of a challenge.



    I've done exactly this, but it doesn't stick. Doesn't let me choose any of the browsers.
    Right click at the Start button > select Control Panel > top right, click View by > select either large or small > select Default Programs > select Set your default programs > wait for it to load > left side, find Google Chrome > click it > right side, click Set this program as default <bottom right, click OK when done.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 2
    Windows 10
       #7

    The problem is that the settings "don't stick". I'm having the same issue. We can get to the settings page just fine.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 42,733
    Win 10 Pro (22H2) (2nd PC is 22H2)
       #8

    Do you have an old version of winzip installed?

    And note:
    MS admits bug in KB3135173 resetting associations
    See this, referring to KB3135173,
    Windows 10 Forced Update Resets Default Apps To Microsoft Products - Slashdot

    Updategate: Microsoft 'aware' of problem causing app defaults to reset- The Inquirer

    - from which came the suggested registry modification.
    Fix for "An App Default was Reset" Windows 10 Resetting File Associations (Registry Fixes) - The Winhelponline Blog

    However, it would be better (I think) to uninstall the update, and hide it (see the Tutorial section)
      My Computers


  9. Posts : 2
    windows 10
       #9

    Leo Gurdian said:
    The problem is that the settings "don't stick". I'm having the same issue. We can get to the settings page just fine.
    Hannah890 said:
    Wondering if anyone else has experienced the same? Trying to google for similar cases was pretty much impossible, at least for me.
    If it's of any help, I'm sporting a Lenovo Y50-70 laptop with Intel Cote i7-4710HQ.
    I can confirm this is happening. I've spent a good 20-30 hours or so doing multiple tests on multiple machines (just happened to be fresh building 2 machines and had a 3rd spare this past weekend). I've run into the exact same behavior you describe -- in the "Default Applications" dialog, you can click on something, get the choices, and no matter what you click it doesn't change or save. The only work-around I've found is if you use right click -> open with on specific file types, you can select 'always open with' and that'll save. Trying to make this change via any Win10 options dialog results in nothing sticking.

    The only 'cure' for it that I've discovered is to fully reinstall Windows 10, or use a restore point to go back before it occurred and avoid triggering it again (more on that in a moment...).

    I believe this is caused by some recent-ish cumulative update or bugfix update, but I am unable to discern which one. I am using the latest "create installation media" version of Win10, which includes most of the recent updates, but not all.

    I've been able to trigger it 100% of the time by doing the following:
    • Freshly installing windows, letting it fully patch to current (I have not attempted to reproduce by going through each of the few patches one by one manually... too much time already lost)
    • Setting windows up with a local account
    • Logging in to any microsoft account authorized application while maintaining local machine login. Tested using both the xbox application and the windows store application.
    • Reboot.


    After authorizing into any microsoft account application while remaining on your local account, default application settings will fail to save. Something happens in the registry at that point (presumably) that causes it to silently fail forever and exhibit other odd behaviors now and again.

    Further testing showed that if you start with a local account post fresh install, and then convert to a full microsoft account log-on, you are completely ok, so long as you don't revert back to local account sign-on.

    So my choices in this matter seem to be:
    a) Use a local windows account, and never, ever engage with any microsoft account authorized software. This includes the default xbox app, and would also preclude me from ever downloading anything from the windows store.
    b) Just give in and link my microsoft account for windows login and never, ever unlink it.

    As best as I can tell, if you're already suffering from this, your only option is to either reinstall windows or use a system restore to roll back to before it was happening (this worked for me in testing, allowed me to test a ton of variations of actions). After which, I'm pretty sure you need to make one of the two choices above.

    Caveat: I'm not a professional, and I've only been fighting this for a couple dozen hours. I could potentially be missing something, so there's that. But I wanted this out there on the internet somewhere just so the handful of people I've seen talking about this issue don't think they're alone and/or crazy, and that maybe this can get someone pointed in the right direction. It could be that some manual registry fiddling could resolve this, which would be fantastic, but I'm not clever enough to deduce that sadly. I'd love to somehow get this to someone on the windows engineering team but I have no idea how to make that happen.

    The whole thing just feels like a dumb bug-testing oversight because of the way local accounts were sort of re-added as a bolt-on from win8 to win10 and are fairly obviously depreciated due to the way microsoft wants to get everybody under a single ID. Which is fine and all, I'm not really against that, but it sure feels like some stuff is getting lost in the transition. This problem seems wholly unrelated to the prior 'resetting default applications' fiasco from a few months ago, which makes searching for info on it even more difficult, as it is more recent and less wide-spread for whatever reason.

    Edit: One caveat to the workaround mentioned at the beginning (open with -> always), is that some things can't be set that way. For example, any application that lets you click URLs but just uses the windows default setting might get confused. You can associate htm and html files by just making one and doing the open with trick, but if you're clicking an https: link then it seems like you're out of luck. Could never find a tricksy workaround for that one.
      My Computer


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

    .......................The only 'cure' for it that I've discovered is to fully reinstall Windows 10, or use a restore point to go back before it occurred and avoid triggering it again (more on that in a moment...)..........................

    Yes. That usually ends up to be the real cure.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:47.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums