Default Apps Shortcut - Create in Windows 8.1

How to Create a "Default Apps" Shortcut in Windows 8.1

information   Information
A default app is the app that Windows uses automatically when you open a particular type of file.

This tutorial will show you how to create or download a Default Apps shortcut to choose default apps by app, file type, and protocol in PC settings for your account in Windows 8.1 and Windows RT 8.1.


EXAMPLE: Default Apps in PC settings
Default_Apps.jpg





OPTION ONE

To Download a "Default Apps" Shortcut


1. Click/tap on the Download button below to download the ZIP file below.​
Default_Apps_Shortcut.zip
download
2. Save the .zip file to your desktop.​
3. Open the .zip file and extract (drag and drop) the shortcut to your desktop.​
4. Unblock the extracted shortcut.​
5. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​
6. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .zip file if you like.​




OPTION TWO

To Manually Create a "Default Apps" Shortcut


1. Right click or press and hold on an empty area of your desktop, and click/tap on New and Shortcut.​
2. Copy and paste the command below into the location area, and click/tap on the Next button. (see screenshot below)​
Note   Note
If you are not have a US English Windows 8.1 installed, then you will need to change the en-US folder name in the command below for the folder name with your language instead for this to work.

Note   Note


Code:
%windir%\explorer.exe %localappdata%\Packages\windows.immersivecontrolpanel_cw5n1h2txyewy\LocalState\Indexed\Settings\[B][COLOR=#ff0000]en-US[/COLOR][/B]\AAA_SettingsPageAppsDefaults.settingcontent-ms
shortcut-1.jpg
3. Type Default Apps for the name, and click/tap on the Finish button. (see screenshot below)​
NOTE: You can name this shortcut anything you would like though.
shortcut-2.jpg
4. Right click or swipe down on the new Default Apps shortcut, and click/tap on Properties.​
5. Click/tap on the Shortcut tab, then click/tap on the Change Icon button. (see screenshot below)​
shortcut-3.jpg
6. In the line under "Look for icons in this file", copy and paste the location below, and press Enter. (see screenshot below)​
%SystemRoot%\system32\imageres.dll
shortcut-4.jpg
7. Select the icon highlighted in blue above, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot above)​
NOTE: You can use any icon that you would like instead though.​
8. Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below step 5)​
9. If you like, you can Pin to Taskbar on desktop, Pin to Start screen, add to Quick Launch, assign a keyboard shortcut to it, or move this shortcut to where you like for easy use.​

That's it,
Shawn


 

Attachments

  • Default_Apps_Shortcut.zip
    797 bytes · Views: 902
  • Default_Programs.png
    Default_Programs.png
    11 KB · Views: 200
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