Change default programs using Set Program Access and Computer Defaults

Applies to all editions of Windows Vista.
Which edition of Windows Vista am I using?

You must be logged on as an administrator to perform these steps.

In Set Program Access and Computer Defaults, you can specify the default programs that Windows uses for common activities such as browsing the web and sending e‑mail. You can also specify which programs are available from the Start menu, the desktop, and other locations.

The options you set in Set Program Access and Computer Defaults apply to all users on your computer. To set defaults for specific users, see Change which programs Windows uses by default.

1.	Open Set Program Access and Computer Defaults by clicking the Start button , clicking Default Programs, and then clicking Set program access and computer defaults. If you are prompted for an administrator password or confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
2.	To specify the default programs for activities such as browsing the Internet and sending e‑mail messages on your computer, choose one of the following configurations, expand the configuration and choose options if available, and then click OK.

Select	To
Computer Manufacturer	Restore your settings to those selected by the manufacturer of your computer. This option is available only if the computer manufacturer installed this version of Windows on your computer and established settings for this feature.
Microsoft Windows	Use programs that are included with Windows as the defaults. Even though Microsoft programs will be used by default, you can still access all programs installed on your computer.
Non-Microsoft	Use non-Microsoft programs that are installed on your computer as the defaults. If you choose this option, access to the specified Microsoft Windows programs will be removed. You can, however, restore access to Microsoft programs at any time by changing the setting to Custom.
Custom	Use a combination of non-Microsoft and Microsoft Windows programs as the defaults. A custom configuration allows you to specify default programs for each activity. If you do not want a program to appear on the Start menu, the desktop, or other locations where programs typically appear, clear the Enable access to this program check box next to the program name.

Notes

The Custom option is always selected by default. All options presented in the Computer Manufacturer (if available), Microsoft Windows, and Non-Microsoft configurations are available in the Custom section.
In the Custom section, if you select Use my current, the current default program for that category will continue to be used.
Software manufacturers determine how their products work with this feature. Some non-Microsoft programs might continue to show icons on the Start menu and elsewhere even if you clear the Enable access to this program check box for that program.

Change default programs using Set Program Access and Computer Defaults

See also