Windows 10: Set Firefox as default when it does not show up in Settings?

I'm trying to set Firefox as the default browser on a Windows 10 PC and when I go to Settings => Default Apps the only options that appear are Edge & IE. Is there a way I can bypass this UI and simply manually select an .exe?

I did see this question and tried the solution listed there (create a .htm file, assign Firefox to open all .htm files) but Settings => Default Apps still does not list Firefox as an option.

Apologies if proper etiquette 'round here is to necro an old question instead of re-asking.

EDIT: I am trying to make set Windows' default web browser to Firefox. This is normally done via Settings => Apps => Default Apps but for some reason Windows is not listing Firefox as an option.

gohanman

Posted 2017-10-20T14:50:07.587

Reputation: 141

What, exactly, do you mean by “set Firefox as the default browser”? Do you mean that you want Firefox to open when you double-click on an HTML file in Explorer? Does that work? What behavior that you want are you not getting? Please do not respond in comments; [edit] your question to make it clearer and more complete. – G-Man Says 'Reinstate Monica' – 2017-10-20T15:02:01.750

Please edit the question to limit it to a specific problem with enough detail to identify an adequate answer. – Ramhound – 2017-10-20T15:19:16.560

3I think it's time for a second 'suit - Microsoft browser v.s. Microsoft browser is no choice at all. :-) – wizzwizz4 – 2017-10-20T19:46:33.133

Did you install Firefox as an administrator or as a normal, limited user? I'm asking because I had the same problem with Chrome on Windows 7, and the solution, as I posted here, was to reinstall Chrome as an administrator. Could it be that it's the same problem?

– Fabio says Reinstate Monica – 2017-10-21T00:07:54.310

Just to add a tidbit, this also seems to happen on PCs at work after the 2017 fall edition update. Firefox works perfectly, but is not settable as the default browser until it is deinstalled and reinstalled. – Hennes – 2018-06-14T18:34:51.727

Try this: https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/5507-choose-default-apps-windows-10-a.html

– DxTx – 2018-12-29T21:29:49.403

Answers

I have the same issue on my PC, with Firefox not being listed in the Web browser section of the Default Apps part of Settings. However, you can still change Firefox to the default web handler from this screen; it just takes a few extra steps.

From the Choose Default Apps screen, scroll all the way down to the bottom and click on Set defaults by app.
In the following window (located at Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\Set Default Programs) choose Firefox from the list of programs.
At the bottom of the window, click on Set this program as default. This will select all options that Firefox would normally set if you clicked the Make Default button in FF before Windows 10.
Alternatively, you can click Choose defaults for this program and select only the files/protocols you want Firefox to respond to.

For me, this sets Firefox as the default web browser for everything I want, though for some weird reason it still won't list it as an available option in the Web browser section.

techturtle

Posted 2017-10-20T14:50:07.587

Reputation: 8 059

3For me, Firefox doesn't show up in that list either. – JiK – 2019-06-10T08:45:51.017

@JiK I'm sure you've solved "How to add Firefox to the Settings - Default Apps - Web Browser - Choose an App window" by now but if not Uninstall / Install Firefox. – somebadhat – 2019-11-01T11:07:57.423

Using the portable version of Firefox, I was able to make it appear in the list of web browser choices found at Settings -> Apps -> Default apps.

Within Firefox itself, navigate to Tools -> Options -> General press Make Default...:

I found the same behaviour with an installed version of the Firefox-based PaleMoon browser, so I doubt if my use of portable Firefox has any effect on the solution, but Run5k was right to point out that I should have noted this.

Earlier versions of Firefox may have this setting elswhere (eg Options -> Advanced -> General).

AFH

Posted 2017-10-20T14:50:07.587

Reputation: 15 470

When I do this in Win10 and FF 52.4 ESR it does not set Firefox as the default. It just takes me to the place where you are supposed to change all your main default apps, but as with OP, I don't have FF in my list under the web browser section. – techturtle – 2017-10-20T15:58:23.303

Yeah I get the same thing as techturtle. That opens Windows' Settings => Default Apps but the dropdown for Web Browser still just lists IE and Edge – gohanman – 2017-10-20T16:03:46.113

Very odd. When I use this option I go to the same place, but Firefox has been added to the list of available programs. I found the same with PaleMoon and Chrome. Have you got a security setting which is preventing this? – AFH – 2017-10-20T16:29:17.000

AFH, I know that you had the best of intentions with your answer, but the bottom line is that you can't really "make the setting from within Firefox itself." Utilizing that method merely opens the same Settings > Default Apps interface, rather than actually changing anything. – Run5k – 2017-10-20T16:37:29.670

@Run5k - What it changes for me is the list of available apps. – AFH – 2017-10-20T17:26:07.893

I have never seen that happen. In my experience, utilizing the button within Firefox merely takes you to the same interface that the OP mentioned in their question, but doesn't do anything... including not adding Firefox to the list of available web browsers. However, I have seen the method that Techturtle described work consistently. – Run5k – 2017-10-20T17:59:19.207

For the record, this was FF 56.0 Portable and Chrome 62.0 Portable on Win10/1607, but I'm happy that the questioner has a solution that works for him. For what it's worth, Opera doesn't have this button, and I can't find a way to add it to either list. – AFH – 2017-10-20T18:30:29.887

We always appreciate contributions from the community, including this answer! That being said, it might have been wise to emphasize that you were using the portable versions of the web browsers within your proposed solution. Besides being rather uncommon, using the portable versions could potentially make a big difference in the functionality. – Run5k – 2017-10-20T18:55:32.860

@Run5k - I agree that using portable apps may be unusual, but I instinctively assumed that portable apps would if anything be less amenable to inclusion in system settings. In practice I've never found a difference between portable and installed versions of apps in things like choosing the association in the Open with dialogue or changing the program in the Opens with: field of file properties, which leads me to think that it is unlikely to be a significant factor here. – AFH – 2017-10-20T19:40:44.673

But since we both agree that using portable apps would be unusual for a typical end-user, it probably would have been prudent to tell us that you were utilizing them within your answer rather that assuming that their capabilities would be the same. – Run5k – 2017-10-20T19:57:59.867

@Run5k - If I'd thought it relevant, I would have. But I think we have now said all there is to say on the subject. – AFH – 2017-10-20T20:08:24.900

@Run5k - I hope you don't mind that I have updated your edit to give more detail on the results I found, though I hadn't noted them all in detail in my comments, and it changes the emphasis a little. – AFH – 2017-10-21T22:33:01.347

Windows 10 Pro 64-bit v.1903 and Firefox v.70.0.1 (64-bit)

How to add Firefox to the Settings - Default Apps - Web Browser - Choose an App window.

Uninstall Firefox and install Firefox worked for me.

I assume the update from v.1803 to v.1903 was where Firefox got lost. I don't know why it disappeared from the "Choose an App" window.

The accepted answer's Control Panel\All Control Panel Items\Default Programs\Set Default Programs takes me to Settings - Default Apps where Firefox does not exist at Web Browser - Choose an App

somebadhat

Posted 2017-10-20T14:50:07.587

Reputation: 607