In order for any device to be able to play music and movies, it is necessary to install the appropriate software that allows for the necessary capabilities. This specific function is carried out by specialized players on computers that are running the Windows operating system.
In most cases, the standard operating system build already includes specific programs that allow users to deal with audio and video; nevertheless, not all users are content with the capabilities of this software on their computers. The fact that media files continue to open in standard apps even after a third-party player has been installed is a source of a great deal of annoyance.
In order to get out of this predicament, you will need to figure out how to set the default player and how to select priority software for working with music or videos.
What is the meaning of the default program?
For the purpose of interacting with media files, the default player is a specialized piece of software that is utilized to open all data in the formats that match to certain formats. It is through it that virtually all pictures and music are automatically directed. These kinds of applications are initially selected by the developer of the operating system, who then offers his player the opportunity to take on the function of such an application. On the other hand, the user has the ability to alter this setting at any moment.
In today’s PCs, it is common to have multiple players installed simultaneously, each of which has a comparable capability. Naturally, the question arises as to how to make the player the default so that the required files can be opened without the need for any needless difficulty.
Users are able to freely select the player that they are interested in and establish it as the default player for playing the essential files thanks to the specific functionality that is provided by the Windows operating system. Even more impressive is the fact that this holds true for a vast majority of extensions, including the most uncommon ones.
Basic way to change the default program
When it comes to changing standard software, the most straightforward method is to adjust the system directly at the point where specific files are being opened. In this particular scenario, you will need to locate the audio or video clip that caters to your interests. The next step is to right-click on the file and then move your mouse pointer over the “Open with” item that appears in the context menu.
The “Select program” column should be selected by clicking on it in the popup that opens. Almost immediately after this, a window will open up containing a list of applications that have been installed.
Simply choose the application that you are interested in, and then tick the box that is located next to the phrase “Use the selected program for all files of this type.” Please click the “Ok” button to confirm the actions that have been taken. The file will open in the player of your choice, and any further data that has the same extension will also launch automatically in this software.
Setup via application list
Changes to the parameters are necessary in order for the operating system to be able to open media files using a different program rather than the default Windows Media application. This is something that makes perfect sense.
Instructions on how to change the default player in operating systems that use Windows 11 or 10:
In order to activate the Windows settings window, press the Win key and the I key simultaneously on your keyboard.
Windows Media Player can be found by going to Applications > Default Applications > Windows Media Player.
Select the file extension that you want to open; locate and mark the media player that you intend to use as the default player; carry out a similar procedure for all extensions, files that should be opened in a certain player on a consistent basis; and finally, select the file extension that you want to open.
After you have finished making changes and saved them, the system will immediately begin using the program that you have chosen to open media files that have particular extensions. While this is going on, you may always launch them in other programs by using the “Open with” command that is available in the context menu that appears when you right-click.
In the majority of instances, there are no issues associated with changing the default program that is used to open media files. Any user, regardless of their degree of training, is capable of doing all of the necessary tasks. During the course of the operation, did you encounter any difficulties? Please leave a comment below and share your experience.
More Insights
In Windows, you can easily set Windows Media Player as the default media player for various file types. To do this, you need to navigate to the Default Apps settings in Windows. Here’s how you can change the default program for media files:
1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard.
2. Click on “Apps” and then select “Default apps” from the sidebar.
3. Scroll down and click on “Choose default apps by file type” under the “Default apps” section.
4. Look for the file types you want to associate with Windows Media Player, such as .mp3 for music files or .mp4 for video files.
5. Click on the current default app next to the file type (e.g., Video Player) and select “Windows Media Player” from the list of available options.
By following these steps, you can set Windows Media Player as the default media player for specific file types on your Windows system. This will ensure that when you open media files, they will automatically play using Windows Media Player as the default program.
In addition to changing the default media player through the Settings app, you can also set Windows Media Player as the default player for specific file formats directly in File Explorer. Here’s how:
1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to a folder that contains media files of the desired file format, such as .mp3 or .mp4.
3. Right-click on a file of that format and select “Open with” from the context menu.
4. In the submenu, click on “Choose another app.”
5. A list of available media players will appear. Select “Windows Media Player” from the list.
6. Ensure that the “Always use this app to open .[file extension] files” checkbox is checked.
7. Click on “OK” to save the changes.
By following these steps, you can set Windows Media Player as the default player for specific file formats directly in File Explorer.
Alternatively, you can also change the default media player through the Control Panel. Here’s how:
1. Press the Windows key + R on your keyboard to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “control panel” and hit Enter to open the Control Panel.
3. In the Control Panel, select “Programs” and then click on “Default Programs.”
4. Click on “Set your default programs.”
5. From the list of installed programs, select “Windows Media Player.”
6. Click on “Set this program as default” to make Windows Media Player the default player for all supported file types.
7. You can also choose specific file types by clicking on “Choose defaults for this program” and selecting the desired file formats.
Remember that these instructions may vary slightly depending on your operating system version. If you ever want to remove Windows Media Player as the default player for certain file formats, you can follow similar steps in the Settings app, Control Panel, or File Explorer and choose a different media player as the default program for those file types.
If you want to change the default media player for video files, such as .mp4 or .mkv, you can also set Windows 11 Media Player as the default player for these file formats directly in File Explorer. Here’s how:
1. Open File Explorer by pressing the Windows key + E on your keyboard.
2. Navigate to a folder that contains video files of the desired file format.
3. Right-click on a video file and select “Open with” from the context menu.
4. In the submenu, click on “Choose another app.”
5. A list of available media players will appear. Select “Windows Media Player” from the list.
6. Ensure that the “Always use this app to open .[file extension] files” checkbox is checked.
7. Click on “OK” to save the changes.
Additionally, if you need to convert video files to a different format, you can consider using a third-party video converter available on the Microsoft Store. By following the steps provided by the video converter application, you can easily convert your video files to your desired format.
If you want to change autoplay settings for media files, you can do so by opening the Control Panel and selecting “AutoPlay.” From there, you can choose the default program for various media types and change autoplay settings according to your preferences.
While Windows Media Player is a good built-in media player for Windows, you might also consider using other media players such as VLC Media Player, which offers additional features and subscription benefits.
Remember that these instructions may vary slightly depending on your operating system version. If you ever want to remove Windows Media Player as the default player for certain file formats, you can follow similar steps in File Explorer and choose a different media player as the default program for those file types.
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