How to Assign Default Program to All Users on Windows Server 2019

How to Assign Default Program to All Users on Windows Server 2019

Windows Server 2019 is a powerful operating system commonly used in business environments. One common task for system administrators is to assign default programs to all users on the server. This ensures that specific file types open with the desired program by default. In this article, we will guide you through the process of assigning a default program to all users on Windows Server 2019.

Step 1: Identify the Desired Default Program

The first step is to identify the program you want to set as the default for a specific file type. For example, let's say you want to set Adobe Acrobat Reader as the default program for all PDF files.

Step 2: Access the Default Apps Settings

To assign a default program to all users, you need to access the Default Apps settings. Follow these steps:

1. Click on the Start button in the bottom left corner of the screen.
2. Click on Settings (the gear icon).
3. In the Settings window, click on Apps.
4. On the left sidebar, click on Default apps.

Step 3: Set the Default Program

Now that you have accessed the Default Apps settings, you can set the desired program as the default for a specific file type:

1. Scroll down to find the Choose default apps by file type section and click on it.
2. A list of file extensions and their associated default apps will appear.
3. Scroll down or use the search bar to find the file extension you want to modify (e.g., .pdf for PDF files).
4. Click on the current default app next to the file extension.
5. A list of available apps will appear. Select the desired program (e.g., Adobe Acrobat Reader).

Repeat these steps for any other file types you want to modify.

Step 4: Apply the Default Program to All Users

Now that you have set the default program for a specific file type, you need to apply it to all users on the Windows Server 2019. To do this, follow these steps:

1. Open the Registry Editor by pressing Win + R on your keyboard, typing regedit, and pressing Enter.
2. In the Registry Editor, navigate to the following path:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileAssociation
3. Locate the file extension you modified in the previous steps (e.g., .pdf) under the FileAssociation key.
4. Right-click on the file extension and select Export.
5. Save the exported file with a descriptive name and the .reg extension (e.g., pdf_default.reg).

Now that you have exported the registry key, you can distribute it to all users on the Windows Server 2019. You can do this using Group Policy or by manually applying the registry key on each user account.

Using Group Policy to Assign Default Program to All Users

If you have a domain environment and use Group Policy, you can easily assign the default program to all users. Follow these steps:

1. Open the Group Policy Management Console by pressing Win + R on your keyboard, typing gpmc.msc, and pressing Enter.
2. Create a new Group Policy Object or edit an existing one.
3. Navigate to User Configuration > Preferences > Windows Settings > Registry.
4. Right-click on Registry and select New > Registry Item.
5. In the New Registry Properties window, click on the ... button next to the Value Name field.
6. Click on the Import... button and select the exported registry key file you saved earlier (e.g., pdf_default.reg).
7. Click OK to close all windows.

Now, the Group Policy will apply the default program to all users on the Windows Server 2019.

Manually Applying the Registry Key to Each User Account

If you don't use Group Policy or prefer a manual approach, you can apply the exported registry key to each user account individually. Follow these steps:

1. Copy the exported registry key file (e.g., pdf_default.reg) to each user's computer.
2. Double-click on the registry key file to apply it. A confirmation prompt will appear, click Yes to proceed.
3. Repeat these steps for each user account on the Windows Server 2019.

By following these steps, you can easily assign a default program to all users on Windows Server 2019. Whether you choose to use Group Policy or manually apply the registry key, you can ensure that specific file types open with the desired program by default.

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