Fix: An app default was reset notification

If you are a Windows 10 user and you have recently updated your Windows then you are most likely to encounter this error. You’ll notice that you will keep getting the “an app default was reset” notification whenever you use a certain app. You might also see the extended version of the notification which is

“An app default was reset – An app caused a problem with the default app setting for (extension) files, so it was reset to (some other app).”

This will most likely start happening after you select a third-party app as the new default. In some cases, the notification will keep appearing during the whole session of that app usage. Some users have also complained about the app default getting reset after seeing this notification. However, that is not always the case, you might keep seeing the notification but the app default won’t change. This can obviously create a lot of annoyance.

What causes an app default to reset?

This issue is caused by a bug in the Windows 10 update that either resets or tries to reset the default app back to what it originally was (usually to the metro apps). The reason why Windows 10 does this is because it thinks that the 3^rd party application changed the file associations by incorrect methods. So Windows resets the file associations/default apps. That’s why you’ll start seeing the “An app default was reset” notification as soon as you try to use the newly default app.

Method 1: Sign in with a Microsoft Account

If you are signed in with a local account then try to switch to the Microsoft account first. Switching to the Microsoft account has been fruitful for a lot of users. If you don’t know how to switch to the Microsoft account then follow the steps given below

1. Press and hold Windows key and press I
2. Select Accounts

3. Click Your Info from the left pane
4. Select Sign in with a Microsoft Account option and follow any additional on-screen instructions

Method 2: Change Registry

The easiest and the most common solution for this issue is to make some changes in the registry. Since the problem is caused whenever you replace a metro app with a 3^rd party app as the default app, making some changes in the registry will prevent the metro apps from this kind of behavior. Usually, we would give you the steps for making these changes via the registry editor but the issue is with the majority of the metro apps and it will take a lot of time. So, we are providing a registry changer file. All you have to do is download the file and double-click it. It will automatically make the changes in the registry and you will be good to go. It’s simple and quick.

1. Download the registry fix from (here).
2. Double click the file named Fix_An_app_default_was_reset to run the registry.
3. Click Yes if the computer shows any prompts and proceed.

Note: If you are worried about the contents of the downloaded file, you can simply right-click the .reg file and open it with Notepad.

Once you download and double-click the file you will be good to go. You can run the “undo” file if you want to revert the changes.