Can't set Pale Moon as default browser Topic is solved

[Pearl]

Operating system: Windows 10 Business Pro
Browser version:33.7.0
32-bit or 64-bit browser?: 64 bit
Problem URL: n/a
Browser theme (if not default): default
Installed add-ons: n/a
Installed plugins: (about:plugins):n/a
Installed extensions: Autoplay toggle 1.0.1, Block Content 0.3, uBlock Origin 1.16.6.0


I got a new laptop, installed Pale Moon, and I cannot make it my default browser. When I tell Pale Moon to be default it pops up the laptop's list of browsers and Pale Moon isn't there to select so this machine keeps defaulting to Edge (which I don't want to use as a default.)
Any idea how to get around this?
Thank you!!

[Moonchild]

Did you use the installer? It should have added an entry to the list of applications.

[Pearl]

I did use the installer. It's on the application list under apps, but not on the list of browsers it's willing to default to.
It's like it's doesn't realize Pale Moon is a browser at all?

[Moonchild]

Strange. I run on Win 10 as well and while it can be a bit peculiar sometimes I've never had this issue you describe.

If you go to Windows Settings, Apps, then choose "default apps" in the left pane, and scroll to "Web browser", it should be an option there.
If still no joy, try going a few options further down to "Set defaults by app", select Pale Moon's entry, click "Manage", then select it for all the options listed.

[Pearl]

If you go to Windows Settings, Apps, then choose "default apps" in the left pane, and scroll to "Web browser", it should be an option there.

It wasn't. That when I got puzzled.

If still no joy, try going a few options further down to "Set defaults by app", select Pale Moon's entry, click "Manage", then select it for all the options listed.

WOOT!! That worked!!
I went through all of the by app, by protocol, by file type and put Pale Moon in every place I could. The tried clicking on an email link, and HA! Pale Moon opened it!!

THANK YOU!! I appreciate your time!

(Edge REALLY wasn't making me happy, I've used Pale Moon since I ran an XP desktop machine, I'm addicted to it.)

[Bilbo47]

Win 11 is even worse for this. It actively captures and prevents launching a favorite third-party program that manages the registry regarding filetypes and what actions call what programs. As for default browser-etc, Win 11 tries harder than 10 to disallow user choice.

[Pearl]

Honestly, I'm hating this new windows 10 machine more every day. I'm debating putting linux on it. This is vile. I don't want to have to fight my computer to do what I need to.

[Moonchild]

Well, at least you can take Pale Moon with you if/when you do

[Night Wing]

Honestly, I'm hating this new windows 10 machine more every day. I'm debating putting linux on it.

Off-topic:
If you do decide to come on over to Linux, just pick a linux distro which is easy to learn and does 95% of what you want right out of the box.

When I saw Windows 8 and I didn't need any Windows only specific programs, that was back in late October of 2012 when I made the decision to experiment with linux distros.

Linux Mint 13 was my final destination in January of 2013. This was when I burned my bridges behind me and kicked Windows to the curb for good. Speaking just for myself, it was the best and correct decision back then and still is today.

And I am a non-technical person which means I am not a power user in Linux. Since I am non-technical, I do not use the command line linux Terminal very much. Just a few simple commands which are easy to remember when I do use the Terminal. I am currently using the distros of Mint 22.1, MX Linux 23.6, Debian12.10 and all of them with the Xfce desktop environment.

How did I learn? By using the information found in the distros own forums and looking at YouTube videos.

[Pearl]

Off-topic:
Night Wing: Thank you!
I may end up there. I'll keep this information.
I appreciate it!

[Sablesword]

It might not be specifically a Windows 10 thing. I recently had a similar problem with Windows 7.

Avast antivirus software installed (unasked!) the 'secure' Avast browser, and then the antivirus program protected it against any other browser being set as the preferred one. Worse, it kept doing so even after the Avast browser was uninstalled (using the special Avast tool).

In the end, I re-installed the Avast browser, turned off the 'self-protection' features in the Avast anti-virus, uninstalled the Avast browser and then could change my preference to Pale Moon.

[moonbat]

Avast antivirus software installed (unasked!) the 'secure' Avast browser, and then the antivirus program protected it against any other browser being set as the preferred one. Worse, it kept doing so even after the Avast browser was uninstalled (using the special Avast tool).

You don't need a separate antivirus program if you browse sensibly. Defender is more than enough. How many times has your AV actually caught anything?

[Massacre]

Actually, you don't need any antivirus at all, if you don't run executables downloaded from internet without verifying them on something like Virustotal. Firewall is enough. But you're stuck now with Windows Defender by default.