Ask OnSoftware: Set the default media player in Windows 7

By Elena Santos on 1 July, 2010

A few days ago reader Michael contacted us with the following question:

I have Windows 7 and want to make my KMP Player my default media player, but when I go to assign a default player, Windows doesn't show any of the media players I have purchased or downloaded.

Actually, there are several ways to change the default media player (or other program) that Windows 7 uses to open specific file types. Let's take a look at them, one by one:

The first one, and most obvious, is changing file association within the program you want to use as default. Most programs include an option in their configuration settings that allows you to select the file types you want to open by default.

Change default media player in Windows 7

Sometimes you can even set up these preferences while you're installing the program. From that moment on, Windows will recognize it as the default app to open the selected file types.

Change default media player in Windows 7

Another way to change a default app in Windows 7 is using the files you want to associate with it. Right click any of them and go to Open with. You'll open a menu with all the available programs on your system that are suitable to open that file type. Bear in mind though that this file association will only work this time.

Change default media player in Windows 7

If you don't see the program you want to use on this list, click Choose default program... and select it from there. Don't forget to tick the "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" option if you want to make this file association permanent.

Change default media player in Windows 7

But if for any reason you don't see the program in this list, simply click the Browse button and look for it on your hard drive. You'll need to select the program's executable file.

Change default media player in Windows 7

Michael, I hope this solves your problem and you're finally able to set up KMPlayer as your default media player. Remember you can all keep on sending questions and doubts to ask@onsoftware.com so that we can provide handy solutions for you and all our readers.

Comments

  • rishika rishika

    hi i m a new KMP user.i have wiondows 7, but its not working smoothly and the player hangs pretty often at the end of a program.how can i know more about its handling procedure.please help...

    • Sent on 05 Jan 2011
  • Mohammad Osman Hassani Mohammad Osma<br />n Hassani

    Hi i am the one who like and user of KMP in windows xp vista and now would like to be user in windows 7 as well.

    • Sent on 13 Feb 2011
  • sasidhar sasidhar

    how do i put vlc media player as default media player for all videos and audios?

    • Sent on 15 Feb 2011
  • serge serge

    Hi, every time I open some disc with video I have a note appeared from KMPlayer - Access violation at address 10728670 in module 'gm_ml.dll.' Read of address 00000028. what it means?

    • Sent on 19 Feb 2011
  • sandeep sandeep

    hi i m a new KMP user.i have wiondows 7, but its not working smoothly and the player hangs pretty often at the end of a program.how can i know more about its handling procedure.please help...

    • Sent on 22 Feb 2011
  • PRANAV ROY PRANAV ROY

    I WANT TO MAKE CREATIVE MEDIA PLAYER MY DEFAULT MEDIA PLAYER IN WINDOW 7 ?

    • Sent on 03 Apr 2011
  • x x

    splayer de güzel

    • Sent on 18 Apr 2011
  • lilbusia lilbusia

    i have many

    • Sent on 25 May 2011
  • Squafdonoboles Squafdonobole<br />s

    Can only capture snapshots from Flash video. If I try to capture from mpg or wmv, a message pops up that says "Impossible to capture in Super Speed". What is Super Speed, and how can I adjust this in my preferences?

    • Sent on 06 Aug 2011
  • g g

    i can play videos

    • Sent on 23 Aug 2011
  • anjad anjad

    hi i m a new KMP user.i have wiondows 7, but its not working smoothly and the player hangs pretty often at the end of a program.how can i know more about its handling procedure.please help...

    • Sent on 27 Aug 2011
  • Shimul Shimul

    I like this site

    • Sent on 05 Sep 2011
  • Conita Chan Conita Chan

    Hi,

    I am a new KMPlayer user. I downloaded KMPlayer about 1 week ago and I played some videos. However I failed to play some other videos. I thought I may not have installed KMPlayer properly the first time so I uninstalled and tried to download KMPlayer again. However when I tried to download KMPlayer again today, I got the error message: "Softonic Downloader needs an internet connection to function. Please try again." However my internet connection was functioning. I just don't know what the problem is. Please help! I really want to download KMPlayer as the program worked very well! I wished I didn't uninstall it!!! Thanks.

    • Sent on 18 Dec 2011
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