Why does Windows ask which software to use for MP4 files when I have already selected VLC Player?

When you have VLC Player installed on your Windows computer, you might wonder why Windows still asks you which software to use for MP4 files. This can be quite frustrating, especially when you have already selected VLC Player as your default media player. In this article, we will explore why this happens and how you can fix it.

Why does Windows ask which software to use?

Windows asks you which software to use for MP4 files when you have multiple applications that can handle this file type. Even if you have already selected VLC Player as your default media player, there might be other programs on your computer that can also play MP4 files. Windows wants to make sure you have the freedom to choose the program you prefer.

Additionally, when you install a new program that can handle MP4 files, Windows might reset the default program settings. This means that even if you had previously set VLC Player as the default, it could be changed back to another program without your knowledge.

How to make VLC Player the default for MP4 files

If you want to ensure that Windows always uses VLC Player to open MP4 files, you can follow these simple steps:

1. Right-click on an MP4 file on your computer.
2. Select "Open with" from the context menu.
3. Click on "Choose another app."
4. A list of programs will appear. Select VLC Player from the list.
5. Check the box that says "Always use this app to open .mp4 files."
6. Click "OK" to save the changes.

By following these steps, you are telling Windows to always open MP4 files with VLC Player. This should prevent Windows from asking you to choose a program every time you open an MP4 file.

Other considerations

If you have followed the steps above and Windows still asks you which software to use for MP4 files, there might be some other factors at play:

• File associations: Sometimes, the file associations in Windows can get corrupted or changed. To fix this, you can try resetting the file associations for MP4 files. You can do this by going to the "Default apps" settings in Windows and selecting VLC Player as the default for MP4 files.
• Multiple versions of VLC Player: If you have multiple versions of VLC Player installed on your computer, it can cause conflicts with file associations. Make sure you only have one version of VLC Player installed and try setting it as the default again.

If none of these solutions work, you might consider reinstalling VLC Player or seeking further technical support.

Conclusion

Windows asks you which software to use for MP4 files when you have multiple programs that can handle this file type. Even if you have selected VLC Player as your default media player, other factors like file associations or multiple versions of VLC Player can cause Windows to ask for your preference repeatedly. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can make VLC Player the default for MP4 files and enjoy a seamless media playback experience.

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