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I can't set firefox as my default browser. The options menu won't let me make it the default browser. Using Windows 8

  • 17 replies
  • 1 has this problem
  • 15 views
  • Last reply by Happy112

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When I try to set Firefox as my default browser in Windows 8, the options menu goes to the Set Associations menu and won't set it as the default browser. In the instructions on your website for the alternate way to set it it only gives directions for Windows 7, Vista and XP not Windows 8. This is most annoying. I have tried reinstalling Firefox but that didn't work.

When I try to set Firefox as my default browser in Windows 8, the options menu goes to the Set Associations menu and won't set it as the default browser. In the instructions on your website for the alternate way to set it it only gives directions for Windows 7, Vista and XP not Windows 8. This is most annoying. I have tried reinstalling Firefox but that didn't work.

Chosen solution

JoanO said

I have done those instructions and the ones in the video several times and it still doesn't work. When I open Chrome I don't get the message that it is not my default browser. I wonder if removing Chrome might solve the problem. I don't use it anyway.

Might be a good idea, but : Like cor-el asked you earlier :   which browser is currently set as the default browser   ? And :   where in Windows 8 settings do you see which browser is set as default  ? No option there to change it  ?

Just thought of something :   you mentioned that you   had   Firefox set as default, but it changed back, right  ? After you've set Firefox to be your default browser, did you scroll down and click 'OK'  ? Those sly MS foxes make that so easy to miss   ......

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All Replies (17)

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Did you try setting Firefox as your default inside the browser?

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Would you check this setting please  :

3-bar menu => Options => General Under 'Startup' : check : 'Always check if Firefox is your default browser'

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tomatoshadow2 said

Did you try setting Firefox as your default inside the browser?

I tried that first. Didn't work.

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Happy112 said

Would you check this setting please  : 3-bar menu => Options => General Under 'Startup' : check : 'Always check if Firefox is your default browser'

The above is checked.

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Sorry but that didn't work either. Tried it twice but no luck. Thanks anyway.

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JoanO said

Happy112 said
Would you check this setting please  : 3-bar menu => Options => General Under 'Startup' : check : 'Always check if Firefox is your default browser'

The above is checked.

Under that checked line it should read :

Firefox is currently your default browser

And it doesn't  ?

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Not giving up that easily   -   running Windows 10 myself, and for me it's just : Windows menu => Settings => Change default browser ( and don't forget to click OK) But as it doesn't seem to be that simple in Windows 8,   I found this :

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QMF7jXTyxug

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Happy112 said

JoanO said
Happy112 said
Would you check this setting please  : 3-bar menu => Options => General Under 'Startup' : check : 'Always check if Firefox is your default browser'

The above is checked.

Under that checked line it should read :

Firefox is currently your default browser

And it doesn't  ?

No it doesn't

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Which browser is currently set as the default browser?

Can you set any other browser (e.g. Google Chrome) as the default browser?

You can also check the Windows Registry to see what the .html file extension and protocols like HTTP and HTTPS look like. Thee would normally also a FirefoxHTML key to be used when Firefox is set as the default browser.

You can try to uninstall Firefox and reinstall as administrator (right-click: Run as administrator) in case some registry key couldn't be created.

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Before you do anything drastic, would you take a look at these instructions, please (just to give it one more try) :

http://www.online-tech-tips.com/windows-8/change-default-web-browser-in-windows-8/

(Those instructions in that video weren't helpful either   ?)

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I have done those instructions and the ones in the video several times and it still doesn't work. When I open Chrome I don't get the message that it is not my default browser. I wonder if removing Chrome might solve the problem. I don't use it anyway.

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Chosen Solution

JoanO said

I have done those instructions and the ones in the video several times and it still doesn't work. When I open Chrome I don't get the message that it is not my default browser. I wonder if removing Chrome might solve the problem. I don't use it anyway.

Might be a good idea, but : Like cor-el asked you earlier :   which browser is currently set as the default browser   ? And :   where in Windows 8 settings do you see which browser is set as default  ? No option there to change it  ?

Just thought of something :   you mentioned that you   had   Firefox set as default, but it changed back, right  ? After you've set Firefox to be your default browser, did you scroll down and click 'OK'  ? Those sly MS foxes make that so easy to miss   ......

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Well I just fixed it. I went into Control Panel, Default Programs and clicked on Set Program Access and Computer Defaults. The last item on the list. I then chose Custom configuration. IE was the default browser, I changed it to Firefox. It now works properly. Thanks for all your help. I really appreciate it.

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Yay   !   Finally   ! Well done, you   !!!

I noticed that you marked my last post as   'Chosen Solution',   but it
was   you   who finally figured it out,   so, I think that you should mark
your own last post as   'Chosen Solution'   !

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Will do and thanks. I am not sure, however, I would have found the solution without the assistance of all of you who gave me suggestions on what to do. I just thought it couldn't hurt to try it.

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JoanO said

Will do and thanks. I am not sure, however, I would have found the solution without the assistance of all of you who gave me suggestions on what to do. I just thought it couldn't hurt to try it.

Well, you did a great job and deserve the credits   !

(Thank you for your kind words, though)