Solved How to select new default programs when the "More Apps" link is Greyed Out


bobhalverson

Member
Local time
9:37 AM
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14
OS
Windows 10
I'm not a fan of Microsoft's reworked Paint program, so I downloaded Paint Classic as an alternative.
It seems to work exactly like the old Paint program, so I'm happy about that.
However, I can't figure out a way to make it the default program to open jpg files.
When I hover on a jpg file and click "Open with", Paint Classic is not on the list.
I then click on "Choose another App" which brings a pop-up of alternatives.
Paint Classic is not on that list either, and the "More Apps" link is greyed out.
Win 11 has at least six ways to change default programs - I had the same issue with each of them.
So is there a way to force the Paint Classic program to be the default for jpg's under these circumstances?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb
I also tried Settings>Apps>Default Apps where you can set defaults for applications.
Neither the app Classic Paint or the file mspaint1.exe will show up on the list so you could set defaults on it.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb
right click on the file you want to open, select "open with" then maybe "more options" if needed, when you find the app you want set it as default
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18 R1
    CPU
    13th Gen Core i9 13900HX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 @4800MHz 2x16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce RTX 4090HX 16GB
    Sound Card
    Nvidia HD / Realtek ALC3254
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18" QHD+
    Screen Resolution
    25660 X 1600
    Hard Drives
    C: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    D: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    Case
    Dark Metallic Moon
    Keyboard
    Alienware M Series per-key AlienFX RGB
    Mouse
    Alienware AW610M
    Browser
    Chrome and Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
    Other Info
    Killer E3000 Ethernet Controller
    Killer Killer AX1690 Wi-Fi Network Adaptor Wi-Fi 6E
    Bluetooth 5.2
    Alienware Z01G Graphic Amplifier
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware Area 51m R2
    CPU
    10th Gen i-9 10900 K
    Memory
    32Gb Dual Channel DDR4 @ 8843MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia RTX 2080 Super
    Sound Card
    Nvidia
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hard Drive C: Samsung 2TB SSD PM981a NVMe
    Hard Drive D:Samsung 2TB SSD 970 EVO Plus
    Mouse
    Alienware 610M
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton
When I hover on a jpg file and click "Open with", Paint Classic is not on the list.
I then click on "Choose another App" which brings a pop-up of alternatives.
Paint Classic is not on that list either, and the "More Apps" link is greyed out.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb
Just to check, can you open Paint Classic and open the file from there
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware M18 R1
    CPU
    13th Gen Core i9 13900HX
    Memory
    32GB DDR5 @4800MHz 2x16GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    Geforce RTX 4090HX 16GB
    Sound Card
    Nvidia HD / Realtek ALC3254
    Monitor(s) Displays
    18" QHD+
    Screen Resolution
    25660 X 1600
    Hard Drives
    C: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    D: KIOXIA (Toshiba) 2TB KXG80ZNV2T04 NVMe PCIe M.2 SSD
    Case
    Dark Metallic Moon
    Keyboard
    Alienware M Series per-key AlienFX RGB
    Mouse
    Alienware AW610M
    Browser
    Chrome and Firefox
    Antivirus
    Norton
    Other Info
    Killer E3000 Ethernet Controller
    Killer Killer AX1690 Wi-Fi Network Adaptor Wi-Fi 6E
    Bluetooth 5.2
    Alienware Z01G Graphic Amplifier
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Alienware Area 51m R2
    CPU
    10th Gen i-9 10900 K
    Memory
    32Gb Dual Channel DDR4 @ 8843MHz
    Graphics card(s)
    Nvidia RTX 2080 Super
    Sound Card
    Nvidia
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    Hard Drive C: Samsung 2TB SSD PM981a NVMe
    Hard Drive D:Samsung 2TB SSD 970 EVO Plus
    Mouse
    Alienware 610M
    Browser
    Chrome
    Antivirus
    Norton
Yes, I'm able to do that.
Just can't make it the default like I want...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb
If I go to Settings>Apps>Apps & Features --------- Classic Paint is on that list.
But all I can do from there is uninstall it...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb
I tried restarting my PC to see if that would make it show on "the list" (after just downloading the program).
Didn't make any difference.
I also tried looking for the program in the Microsoft Store -- it's not there.
Probably because Microsoft doesn't want to enable us to easily use retired versions of their software...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb
In Googling possible solutions, I looked for articles that discussed doing reg edits to add programs on "the list".
I found a few things but nothing that seemed instructive enough that I felt comfortable trying it...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb
I ended up figuring out how to solve this myself, thanks to Fix #6 on this webpage:


The instruction I entered at the Command Prompt was:

ftype jpegfile="C:\Windows\System32\mspaint1.exe" "%1"

It shows up on "the list" as merely "Paint", but it has the classic icon.
The current MS Paint is also on the list with the current icon.
I was a little worried that I would have to enter the ftype command every time I logged in.
But when I shut down and restarted, everything was still there.
Passing this info along in case it helps someone else along the way...
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb
Just for completeness, I previously used regedit to try to change the file association list for jpg's

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\

Under the jpg folder, I added a new dword with the next letter in the list and the program I wanted to add..
This did not work, but I didn't remove this registry change...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    HP All-In-One
    CPU
    Intel Core i3-7100T CPU @ 3.40GHz, 340i MHz, (2) Cores,
    Motherboard
    HP 82DC Ver. 1000
    Memory
    6 Gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    Intel HD Graphics 630
    Sound Card
    Realtek High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    24" HP All-In-One
    Screen Resolution
    1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    987 Gb

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