default apps

[Fix] Can’t Change File Association via Default Apps in Windows 11

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windows 11 jpg/png association fix

After installing third-party software on your Windows 11 computer, the ability to associate file types such as JPG, JPE, JPEG, PNG, MPG, MPEG, and other file types may be hampered. Here are the issues you may encounter when attempting to change the file association for the said file types.

When you right-click on an image file such as .jpg, click Open With, and select Choose another app, the “Always use this app to open .jpg files” checkbox is missing.

windows 11 jpg/png association fix

If you right-click on the image file and click Properties, the “Change…” button is missing:

windows 11 jpg/png association fix

In the Settings → Apps → Default apps dialog, the “Choose a default” button would be grayed out when you type the file extension (e.g., .jpg, .png, etc.) in the text box.

windows 11 jpg/png association fix

As a result, you may be unable to change the file association for image (and some video) file types.Read more

Register Google Chrome Portable with Default Apps or Default Programs

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register chrome portable with default apps

A long time back, I made a simple program that will register Mozilla Firefox Portable with Default Programs or Default Apps in Windows. Many users asked if a tool can be made for other portable browsers, such as Opera, Chrome, etc.,

This post has a VBScript that will register or unregister Google Chrome Portable (from PortableApps.com) with Default Apps in a single click. After registering, you can set Chrome Portable as the default browser via Default Apps.Read more

Send To Mail Recipient Error: “There is no email program associated”

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Whether an email client is installed in the system or not, errors “There is no email program associated to perform the requested action” and/or “An error occurred while attempting to invoke the default e-mail program” may occur when you try to email a file using one of these methods:Read more

How to Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10 and 11

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Windows Photo Viewer is one of the things that gets removed or hidden from access after upgrading to Windows 10. The new Photos app takes charge as the default handler for image files in Windows 10 and Windows 11.

The good news is Windows Photo Viewer application still exists in the same location in Windows 10 and Windows 11. But what is removed is only its registration.

windows photo viewer thumbnail image

Windows Photo Viewer is a lightweight app similar to the Office Picture Manager and Windows Live Photo Gallery, both of which are discontinued by Microsoft. But, Windows Photo Viewer remains an integral part of Windows 10/11.

Windows Photo Viewer is powered by a single DLL file named photoviewer.dll located in the C:\Program Files\Windows Photo Viewer directory in Windows 11 and earlier OS.

photoviewer.dll file information
Windows Photo Viewer – photoviewer.dll in Windows 10 version 21H1.

For example, this command-line will open a file named D:\sample.png using Windows Photo Viewer:

rundll32.exe "%ProgramFiles%\Windows Photo Viewer\PhotoViewer.dll", ImageView_Fullscreen d:\sample.png

Now, all we need to do is add Windows Photo Viewer file association settings to the registry. If you’re not a fan of the new Photos app, you can restore the missing Windows Photo Viewer registration in Windows 10 and 11.
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Register Firefox Portable with Default Apps or Default Programs in Windows

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Firefox logo

Firefox logoMozilla Firefox®, Portable Edition is the popular Mozilla Firefox web browser bundled with a PortableApps.com Launcher as a portable app, so you can take your bookmarks, extensions, and saved passwords with you.

This article lists two methods with which you can register Mozilla Firefox Portable Edition with Default Apps or Default Programs in Windows Vista through Windows 10/11.Read more