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To change which app opens a protocol or link type in Windows 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, then either search for the protocol or start from the app and pick the link type you want to reassign. Both routes end at the same choice: selecting one of the apps Windows offers for that type.
Before you start
- You need a signed-in account with permission to change default apps on the PC.
- You need the name of the protocol (for example
mailto,http, ortel) or the name of the app you want to take over the link. If you do not know the protocol name, the app-first route below is easier. - The Settings steps below follow Microsoft’s documentation for Windows 11 and Windows 10. Menu labels can shift slightly between Windows 11 feature updates, so match the wording you see to the labels here.
Method 1: Search for the protocol or link type
Use this method when you already know which link type you want to change.
- Open Settings and select Apps.
- Select Default apps.
- In the search box at the top of the page, type the protocol or link type name, such as
mailtoorhttp. - Select the matching result.
- Choose the app you want from the list Windows offers for that type.
Windows then uses the chosen app the next time a link of that type is opened.
Method 2: Start from the app
Use this method when you know the app you want to use, but not the protocol name.
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- Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Select the app you want to inspect. The app’s page lists the file types and link types it can open.
- Select the link type you want this app to handle.
- Choose the preferred app from the offered options, and confirm the selection.
How the two methods compare
| Question | Method 1: Search by protocol | Method 2: Start from the app |
|---|---|---|
| What you need to know first | The protocol or link type name | The app’s name |
| Where you begin | Default apps search box | Default apps list of apps |
| What you see next | Apps offered for that single type | Link and file types that one app can open |
| Best for | Changing one known link type | Reviewing what an app controls before you change anything |
What a change does and does not affect
Each step sets the default for the protocol or file type you selected. Changing one protocol does not automatically change every other association that the same app supports. If you want a different app to handle several types, repeat the steps for each type, or review the app’s page under Default apps and select each type individually.
If the app you want is not listed
Windows only lets you choose from the apps it offers for that link type. The Microsoft instructions cover choosing from that list; they do not describe how to register a missing protocol handler. If your app does not appear, confirm that it is installed and that it supports the link type you are trying to assign. Beyond that, the cited guidance does not establish a further fix, so check the app’s own documentation for how it registers its links.
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Source and scope
These steps are taken from Microsoft Support’s article “Change default apps in Windows,” which covers both Windows 11 and Windows 10. The article was accessed on 2026-10-07. The steps above describe the Windows 11 Settings flow.
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