Why windows 11 change default apps?

Hello, I am working with Windows 11 22H2 (22621.521) and I have the problem that every time I change the default program, either for files with a pdf extension, I open them with Adobe Acrobat DC, a few days pass and Windows 11 returns to the Microsoft Edge browser as default and that happens with all the extensions that can be opened without installing additional software as another example if I have a video file I assign the default program to VLC, in a few days it defaults back to Windows media player 11. Therefore, I would like to know if there is a way to block so that Windows 11 does not change the default programs that I assign to the different extensions.

I just checked and don't see a problem on 22H2 [that I just got today] but I always use right-click Open with, scroll down to Choose a different app [even though the one I want is listed], click on the one desired then at the bottom of the list click on the box beside Always use this program, so far that has been honored over several computers and Version of Window.

ecsa said:

if there is a way to block so that Windows 11 does not change the default programs

Click to expand...

None that I know of. MS seems determined to cram Edge (and onedrive and 365) down our throats. You will also find that updates sometimes changes things the user has done in group policy and regedit.

In settings Apps -default Apps expand VLC then set the file or link types. Once done do the same for Adobe. Go back to Apps -default Apps and scroll down to 'Choose defaults by file types' and check the defaults.

Fabler2 said:

n settings Apps -default Apps expand VLC then set the file or link types. Once done do the same for Adobe. Go back to Apps -default Apps and scroll down to 'Choose defaults by file types' and check the defaults.

Click to expand...

Yes, that's the way to change them, but it won't keep MS from changing them back again at some point. There are so many areas that MS is over-riding our choices and there's not a darn thing we can do about it. If MS can over-ride GPO settings at will, I wonder what all they are doing in Home.

Fabler2 said:

In settings Apps -default Apps expand VLC then set the file or link types. Once done do the same for Adobe. Go back to Apps -default Apps and scroll down to 'Choose defaults by file types' and check the defaults.

Click to expand...

I change for the program that I want to be the default for said file, but as I told you after a few days I find that WIndows 11 changes back to the default programs of its applications, it does not matter if I set it to be the default application and that is very annoying to be always changing with which program I want to open my files, be they multimedia or documents.

glasskuter said:

None that I know of. MS seems determined to cram Edge (and onedrive and 365) down our throats. You will also find that updates sometimes changes things the user has done in group policy and regedit.

Click to expand...

I'll see if I'm looking for a little more information about what you just told me.

Im having the same issue

@dalepbaker and @ecsa Just wondering if you both are insiders and if you use Home or Pro.

I am not a insider
I user Windows 11 Pro 22H2
i7 16gb ram 1tb Samsung Pro
8th gen i7

Have you tried @Berton method?
right-click on file. Select Open with, scroll down to Choose a different app [even though the one I want is listed], click on the one desired then at the bottom of the list click on the box beside Always use this program
When it comes to default apps, that has always worked for me, except for a few times when there was a MAJOR Edge update it would change my default .pdf app back to Edge. Even then I could change it again and it would stick until another major update came down the pike.

Just tried your suggestion
Works on reboots , but not on shut off

Do you have a bat file to change in registry

This just happening after 22H2

dalepbaker said:

Works on reboots , but not on shut off

Click to expand...

That makes no sense at all. Would you mind opening a command prompt as administrator and type sfc /scannow Pay attention to whether system file checker found and/or fixed anything. Then test again.

Did find some corruption and fix
Reboot
Then set default to dc reader
Reboot again
Changed it to edge again

We may be spinning our wheels here. Let's approach this a different way. When a user changes the default app for a file type, it only gets changed and applied under the "UserChoice" key for only their account. Let's test to see if this is a windows problem or an account problem.

1. from an administrative command prompt type net user administrator /active:yes
2. While in your user account copy one of your pdf files to a flash drive. We'll use it for testing.
3. restart and you will see a new account named administrator on signin page. Click it. It will probably ask you to set a password. Leave it blank. It will eventually get to your administrator's desktop.
4. Copy the file from the flash drive and paste it onto administrator desktop. Open the file. It should default to Edge. Close the file.
5. right-click on file. Select Open with, scroll down to Choose a different app, click on the Adobe DC then at the bottom of the list click on the box beside Always use this program.
6. the file should open in Adobe. Close file and re-open it. It should still open in ADobe.
7. restart and log back into administrator account. See if file still opens in Adobe.
8. Shut down computer and turn back on and test the file again in administrator. It should still open in Adobe.

If all these steps work as listed, it's not a windows problem, but an account problem. Let me know whether this proves to be true and I'll give further instructions.
If the administrator account has the same problem the issue is a windows problem and we'll have to decide where to jump next.

9. From your user account open command prompt as administrator type net user administrator /active:no to disable hidden administrator account.

There is other people on this forum that is have problems with pdf since 22H2
Do you have a reg file that would force the change in the registry
Plus my account has been a local account from the beginning
Hopes this helps

For pdf, no. I could export mine for you but my default pdf app is not Adobe DC. I use Nitro Pro.


The default app selected by a user for a file type is stored in the UserChoice key in the registry below.
Since it on a user basis rather than a system basis, that's why I wanted you to try with another user account.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\<file type>\UserChoice

There are some reg files that changes some file types back to their default in this tutorial but that's not what you want...and there is not one for pdf.

If someone reads this that successfully uses Adobe DC as default for .pdf, they could export the above key with file type as pdf, zip the reg file, and attach it to a post for you.

I will try later
Zeroing a bew usb dual drive