Reference number: CH000654

Enabling or disabling a program set as the default program.

Question:

Enabling or disabling a program set as the default program.

Answer:

There are several different software programs that perform the same function such as playing a sound file, viewing pictures, browsing the Internet, etc. Often these programs will fight with each other for rights to open the associated files on your computer. When this occurs you may notice that a different media player now plays your music for example.

Often this issue is caused after a new program that is capable of opening the same type of files is installed on the computer or a program is updated. This issue can often be avoided if the program being installed has options that can be checked or unchecked that allows the user to set the program as the default program or to leave the files associated as they are.

If you have already installed a program and wish to have it set as the default program try closing and re-opening the program, often it will ask if you wish to set it as the default program, sometimes a program may even do this without prompting you. 

Below is also a list of how to manually set some of the more commonly used programs as the default application.

Apple QuickTime
Microsoft Internet Explorer
Microsoft Windows Media Player
Mozilla Firefox
RealPlayer
Winamp
Other programs

Apple QuickTime

Follow the below steps to associate the audio, video, and other media files in Apple QuickTime.

1. Open Apple QuickTime by clicking Start, Programs, QuickTime, and then clicking on QuickTime Player. If QuickTime is not found it is not installed on your computer. See our QuickTime definition for a link to where to download and install this program.
2. Once open click Edit, Preferences, and then click QuickTime Preferences.
3. Click the down arrow next to About QuickTime, select File Type Association, and click the File Types button or tab.
4. Once in the File Association Settings window check or uncheck each of the file associations you want associated with QuickTime.

Note: If you have other media players installed you may need to enable or disable their association with the file type you enabled or disabled in Apple QuickTime.

Microsoft Internet Explorer

If you have another browser installed and wish to have Microsoft Internet Explorer check to make sure it is set as as the default browser each time you open it follow the below steps.

1. Open Internet Explorer
2. Click Tools, Internet Options, and click the Programs tab
3. Check the "Internet Explorer should check to see whether it is the default browser" option. If you do not wish for Microsoft Internet Explorer as the default browser uncheck this option.

Note: If you have another Internet browsers installed you may need to disable their default browser options, otherwise the other browser will fight with Internet Explorer.

Microsoft Windows Media Player

Microsoft's Media Player is a program that associates the type of files it is capable of opening. If there is a certain type of file extension that you do not wish to have associated with Windows Media Player follow the below steps.

1. Open Windows Media Player by clicking Start, Programs, Accessories, Entertainment, and then clicking Windows Media Player.
2. Once open click Tools and then Options. If you don't see the top menu click the down arrow in the top right corner of the window.
3. In the Options window click the File Types tab.
4. Check or uncheck each of the boxes you wish to have Windows Media Player associated with.

For example, if you do not want to use the Windows Media Player for your MP3 files uncheck "MP3 audio file (mp3)".

Note: If you have other media players installed you may need to enable or disable their association with the file type you enabled or disabled in Windows Media Player.

Mozilla Firefox

If you have installed Mozilla Firefox and wish for it to be the default browser you can follow the below steps.

1. Open Mozilla Firefox
2. Click Tools and then Options
3. Under the General section check or uncheck "Firefox should check to see if it is the default browser when starting".  If you do not wish for Mozilla Firefox to check to make sure it is the default browser uncheck this option.

Note: If you have another Internet browsers installed you may need to disable their default browser options, otherwise the other browser will fight with Mozilla Firefox.

RealPlayer

RealPlayer is a media player that associates itself with audio and video files that it is capable of opening. If there is any file types you do or do not wish to be associated with RealPlayer follow the below steps.

1. Open RealPlayer by clicking Start, Programs, and RealPlayer. If RealPlayer is not installed see our RealPlayer page for a link to the download and additional information.
2. Click Tools and then Preferences
3. In the Preferences window click the + next to Content and select Media Types.
4. Select the "Manually configure media types for RealPlayer" and click the Select button.
5. Check and/or uncheck the programs you want associated with RealPlayer.

Winamp

Winamp is a media player that associates itself with audio and video files that it is capable of opening. If there is a certain type of file extension you do not wish to have associated with Winamp follow the below steps.

1. Open Winamp by clicking Start, Programs, Winamp, and then clicking Winamp. If Winamp is not found it is not installed on your computer. See our Winamp page for a link to the download.
2. Click Options and then Preferences
3. Under File Types highlight the programs you wish to be associated with Winamp. If you do not want Winamp to be associated with a particular file un-highlight each file type.

Note: If you have other media players installed you may need to enable or disable their association with the file type you enabled or disabled in Winamp.

Other programs

If the program you wish to enable or disable as the default program is not listed above you can commonly locate the option for this feature under "Tools", "Setup", or "Options". If you want to disable the default program setting for a program you no longer use you can also uninstall the program.

Additional information about adjusting the file association with Windows files can also be found on document CH000572.