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No option to choose Firefox as default application

  • 14 replies
  • 258 have this problem
  • 1 view
  • Last reply by ADTC

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I recently uninstalled Chrome and the default browser set itself to Edge (YUK!!!!) when I try to set the default browser to either Firefox or Firefox Developer I can't .... because there is no option to select Firefox

I recently uninstalled Chrome and the default browser set itself to Edge (YUK!!!!) when I try to set the default browser to either Firefox or Firefox Developer I can't .... because there is no option to select Firefox
Attached screenshots

Chosen solution

Try to uninstall and reinstall Firefox to see if that registers Firefox as web browser.

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All Replies (14)

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Really sorry to hear that. Have you tried making Firefox your default browser from Firefox itself?

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tomatoshadow2 said

Really sorry to hear that. Have you tried making Firefox your default browser from Firefox itself?

I have and it simply takes me to the Windows Settings and I get only two options as browsers; MS Edge and MS Explorer....even though I can change the settings by file type/association for html to Firefox.

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cor-el said

Try:

Yes I have done this. But at the stage where you get to CHOOSE AN APP I am only seeing MS Edge and MS Internet Explorer

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I have resolved my issue BUT everything is not as it should be....

To make Firefox (I use the Developer version) my default web browser I took the following steps:-

1. Opened Control Panel. 2. Selected Default Programs. 3. Set your default programs. 4. From the list of programs I clicked on Firefox Developer Edition. 5. In the panel to the right I then clicked Set this program as default.

This works however two issues:-

A. The default icon is still showing up as MS Edge on any html document in Explorer. B. The 'normal' route to setting default apps via the Settings window correctly shows Firefox Developer Edition as the default browser but the list of apps to choose from still only contains MS Edge and MS Internet Explorer - no Firefox

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The article says that if you click Edge that this will open a window where you can select other browsers.

This will open the Choose an app screen. Click Firefox in the list to set it as the default browser.

Did you try that?

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cor-el said

The article says that if you click Edge that this will open a window where you can select other browsers.
This will open the Choose an app screen. Click Firefox in the list to set it as the default browser.

Did you try that?

Do you have images turned off?

Look at the images I have previously uploaded (or again in this post) - when I click onto the current web browser shown in the list (1) it provides a pop-up window entitled "Choose an application" (2). In that window are all the browsers Windows 10 thinks I have installed....but that list contains just two icons - MS Edge and MS IE.

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If the instructions in the Make Firefox your default browser on Windows support article don’t work for you: are you using Windows 10 Home Edition by any chance?

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Tonnes said

If the instructions in the Make Firefox your default browser on Windows support article don’t work for you: are you using Windows 10 Home Edition by any chance?

Sorry Tonnes, but everyone seems to be missing the point here. I know HOW to change the default browser - the problem is that I am not being offered any other browsers to "Choose an app" from other than Edge and IE - even though I have multiple browsers installed (I have Chrome, Firefox, Firefox Developer, Maxthon, UC, Vivaldi and probably a couple I have forgotten about).

But yes I am running Windows 10 Home, v1703 OS Build 15063.413, 64-bit.

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Thank you, this is why I asked. I think anyone trying to help you out here very well understands these and similar instructions don’t work for you. But as suspected, Windows 10 Home Edition apparently needs a different approach or doesn’t allow changing the default browser to a non-Microsoft browser easily or at all, possibly for marketing reasons.

So the trick is to find better instructions for that Windows version if possible, and your help is appreciated. I just found these instructions along with other ones on that page, so perhaps you could try those? This page contains similar instructions, along with some others. You may have to use the Set defaults by app or (since your screenshots don’t include it) Choose defaults for this program entry.

Of course we would be happy to update our support page(s) after confirmation for these or other (easier) instructions.

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Hi Tonnes,

Thanks for the links but neither were appropriate. I should probably add again that I have resolved the issue using Control Panel rather than the Settings options (see my earlier post and image).

Incidentally I re-installed Chrome last night and that appears in the "Choose an app" list of browsers. So there must be something 'missing' from a Firefox install? - see image. Or is MS being ultra-heavy handed here?

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Chosen Solution

Try to uninstall and reinstall Firefox to see if that registers Firefox as web browser.

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cor-el said

Try to uninstall and reinstall Firefox to see if that registers Firefox as web browser.

Sometimes I can be too stubborn huh!

That worked.

)
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If you don't see the Firefox option there, click "Set defaults by app" at the bottom of the same page. This will launch the traditional control panel. Choose Firefox from the list of programs on the left, and click "Set this program as default".

You can also click "Choose defaults for this program" and select the file types and protocols you want to associate with Firefox. Just the HTTP and HTTPS protocols will ensure links will open in Firefox.