Unlike Windows or Android, ChromeOS doesn’t have one central “default apps” settings page. Instead, you set the default per file type, directly from a file itself, which trips people up the first time they go looking for it in Settings.
Quick answer: Open the Files app, select the file type you want to change (like a PDF or image), click the Open dropdown arrow at the top, and select Change default at the bottom of the list. Pick the app you want, and every file of that type will open with it going forward.
How to Change a Default App
- Open the Files app.
- Click once on a file of the type you want to change (a PDF, image, or similar) — don’t double-click, which just opens it.
- Click the Open button’s dropdown arrow in the top toolbar.
- Scroll to the bottom of the app list and click Change default.
- Select the app you want to use for that file type going forward.
You can also right-click the file and choose More actions, which shows the same list of compatible apps for that file type.
Common Default App Situations
- PDFs opening in the wrong app: if you’ve installed a PDF app like Adobe Acrobat from the Play Store, ChromeOS may default new PDFs to it instead of the built-in Gallery/PDF viewer — follow the steps above to switch it back
- Images opening in Gallery instead of an editing app: the same “Change default” method works for JPGs, PNGs, and other image formats
- Setting your default browser: Chrome is the system default and can’t be swapped for another browser app on ChromeOS the way it can on Android or Windows
Still Not Sticking?
- Setting reverts after reopening a file: some apps re-register themselves as handlers for a file type on every launch, overriding your choice — try setting the default again after closing that app fully.
- App isn’t showing in the list: not every installed app supports being set as a default handler; some apps must be opened manually each time by design.
- Managed Chromebook: some file-handling defaults can be locked by a school or work admin policy.
FAQ
Can I set different default apps for different file extensions, like .jpg vs .png?
Yes, ChromeOS treats each file extension as its own default setting, so you can pick a different app for JPGs than for PNGs if you want.
Does this affect Android apps too, or just ChromeOS’s built-in apps?
Both. Any installed Android app that registers itself as a compatible handler for a file type will show up in the same “Change default” list.
How do I reset a default back to the original app?
Just repeat the same steps and pick the original app (like Gallery for images) from the “Change default” list again.
