While you generally cannot change the actual format of a file being downloaded (that's determined by the source), you can easily change which application opens a specific type of downloaded file in Windows 10. This process involves changing the default app associated with a particular file extension (like .pdf, .jpg, .docx, etc.).
Understanding Default Apps for Downloaded Files
Every file on your computer has a file extension (the letters after the dot in the filename, e.g., .pdf, .jpg, .mp4). Windows uses this extension to identify the file type and determine which program should open it by default when you double-click it. When you download a file, Windows uses the same system to decide which app to launch if you choose to open the file directly from your browser's download list or File Explorer.
By changing the default app for a specific file type, you control how all future files of that type, including downloaded ones, will be handled by default.
Steps to Change the Default Application by File Type
Based on the standard Windows 10 settings, you can change the default app for a specific file type that you download or already have saved on your computer.
Here are the steps:
- Go to Start Menu > Select Settings (the gear icon).
- In the Settings window, click on System.
- In the System menu on the left, choose Default apps.
- Scroll down on the right-hand side and click on Choose default apps by file type.
- Windows will load a long list of file extensions. Find the file type you want to change (e.g.,
.pdf,.jpg,.mp3). - Click on the current default app listed next to the file type.
- A pop-up will appear showing other apps installed on your system that can open this file type. Select the new app you want to set as the default.
The change takes effect immediately for that specific file type.
Example: Setting Your Preferred PDF Reader
Let's say you've downloaded several PDF documents, and they keep opening in Microsoft Edge, but you prefer to use Adobe Acrobat Reader.
- Follow steps 1-4 above to navigate to "Choose default apps by file type."
- Scroll down the list until you find the entry for .pdf.
- Click on "Microsoft Edge" (or whatever the current default is).
- From the list of options, select "Adobe Acrobat Reader" (or another PDF viewer like Foxit Reader, Chrome, etc.).
Now, all PDF files you double-click, including newly downloaded ones, will open in your chosen default app.
Common File Types and Default App Settings
Here's a quick look at some common file types and where you might change their default handlers:
| File Type | Description | Typical Default Apps (Windows 10) |
|---|---|---|
| Portable Document Format | Microsoft Edge, Adobe Acrobat Reader | |
| .jpg, .png | Image Files | Photos, Paint, Paint 3D |
| .docx | Microsoft Word Document | Word, WordPad |
| .xlsx | Microsoft Excel Spreadsheet | Excel |
| .pptx | Microsoft PowerPoint Presentation | PowerPoint |
| .mp4, .mov | Video Files | Movies & TV, Windows Media Player |
| .mp3, .wav | Audio Files | Groove Music, Windows Media Player |
| .zip, .rar | Compressed Archives | File Explorer (Built-in), WinRAR, 7-Zip |
| .html, .htm | Web Pages | Microsoft Edge, Chrome, Firefox |
What Windows Settings Cannot Do
It's important to understand that Windows 10's default app settings manage how files are opened after they are on your computer. They do not:
- Change the file format (e.g., convert a downloaded
.docxfile to a.pdffile during the download process). This requires file conversion software. - Force a website or server to provide a file in a different format than the one it is offering.
- Typically change the location where downloads are saved (that's usually a setting within your web browser).
By adjusting default apps by file type in Windows Settings, you gain control over the post-download experience, ensuring files open with your preferred software.
