Home > Additional Resources > Fixing Windows 10 when it resets apps

Stopping Windows 10 From Resetting Your Apps

One of the most annoying things in Windows 10 is that it frequently tries to reset the default applications you have selected.  Every Windows upgrade tries to change these settings.  To reverse this, use the following program and two registry fixes.

Stop Resetting My Apps

Download this program and then run it.  It will appear as below.  It requires two steps:

1. You first click on Method 1 to reset everything.  

2. In the Method 2 section as you click on each box to select it, a red hand icon will appear.  Finally close the program.  Don't worry if when you click on some of these that the red hand doesn't appear.  This program comes from here.

Normally that should be all you need to do, but if Windows is still vexing you, also try these two registry fixes.  A registry is a file that has all the settings for Windows and its users.

Registry Fix #1

Once you have downloaded and saved the file, Double click on it.  You will then see the following Open File - Security Warning dialog box.  Click on Run.  This fix comes from here.  

Next, the UAC (User Account Control) dialog box will open.  Click on Yes.

The Registry Editor will now start.  Click on Yes.

The final dialog box will appear.  Click on OK, and you are done.

Registry Fix #2

As before, follow the steps outlined above when downloading, saving, and running it.  This fix comes from here.  

How to Reset Your Apps to Your Favorites

Once you have put a stop to Windows 10 overriding your application selections, you can double check that the settings are right.  

Use either of the following two methods for the first step in this process.

Step 1

Step 1 Method 1: 

Open the Defaults apps page by clicking on the series of options shown below:

Step 2

The Default Apps screen will open.  Click on each icon to change its settings.  Here is what mine looks like: