Forum Discussion
Poor and unpredictable UX for adding new default app per filetype settings
Hi, as a Win11 user, I see this problem, especially troublesome if we don't have Admin access (like work PCs)
Let's say I meet a new file extension, like .mbox , find info's that os typical mail file and wish to pair it with Outlook - honestly it's my case now.
When I try to choose default App, I may get a few options, but would need luck to have the Outlook listed there.
Otherwise I need to find program by path, and not only that requires me to know it, but also if I don't have permission to view the directory (like by Admin limits when I use company device), there's nothing I could do.
Please improve this setting, maybe allow the search field on 'select default app' to provide a name, or in "Settings :: Default Apps" please add new button to add new relation 'file format to default app' - currently it provides nothing additional but viewing or modification existing correlations.
Best regards and feel free to reach me
PS screen 1 shows many things, like on terminal in upper right that the 'olk.exe' link I can see but not link to app, is a soft link to a prohibited directory. If I choose the link as default prog, I get error: The file cannot be accessed by the system".
4 Replies
Screenshots I refer to in post but could not add when I made it, due to windows error, Apps > Default Apps....
When I list available apps, I can conveniently see all related file extensions.
However when type a certain extension, I can only see the few proposition, or try to choose app by path - not only less convenient but also some paths are admin-only.
I wish I could add new relation 'app <>file extension' so flexibly as I can display existing settingsScreenshots I refer to in post but could not add when I made it, due to windows error ....
When I list available apps, I can conveniently see all related file extensions.
However when type a certain extension, I can only see the few proposition, or try to choose app by path - not only less convenient but also some paths are admin-only.
I wish I could add new relation 'app <>file extension' so flexibly as I can display existing settingsScreenshots I refer to in post but could not add when I made it, due to windows error ....
When I list available apps, I can conveniently see all related file extensions.
However when type a certain extension, I can only see the few proposition, or try to choose app by path - not only less convenient but also some paths are admin-only.
I wish I could add new relation 'app <>file extension' so flexibly as I can display existing settings.
Adding as text because even Cropped and compressed heavily could not be uploaded ...
@DL8LGVJ64 MINGW64 ~ 0 10:36:04 ls -lah AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowsApps/olk.exe
:29 AppData/Local/Microsoft/WindowsApps/olk.exe -> '/c/Program Files/WindowsApps/Microsoft.OutlookForWindows_1.2025.1007.400_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe/olk.exe'*Screenshots I refer to in post but could not add when I made it, due to windows error ....
I here I would like to be flexible to "choose with search" a proper app per file extension, just as it is for listing existing relations
