How to Change Which Program Opens Your JPG Files

October 11, 2008 | Filed Under Photography, Windows   415 views



When you buy a new digital camera, you are told (forced) to install the software that came with the camera “or else your camera will not work properly with your computer”. This is, of course, total rubbish if you have purchased your camera within the last five years. I have taught hundreds of students and only a few had a digital camera that Windows XP did not recognize. The vast majority worked without installing a thing.

That’s not to say that the software is all bad, but the software that is built into Windows works just as well. In fact, in most cases, I prefer it to all other software. It is a very lightweight program, so your photos will open up very quickly. So, how do you set Windows to open your JPG files instead of your custom software? It’s easy:

Simply right click on a JPG file and click properties.

Then click the “Change” button:

Then select the “Windows Picture and Fax Viewer” and click the “OK” button: (this is Windows’ built in photo viewer)

Now, the JPG Properties window should show the “Windows Picture and Fax Viewer” as the default viewer for JPG files:

Now if you double click on a JPG file, it should open in the “Windows Picture and Fax Viewer”:

The Windows Picture and Fax Viewer is very simple. It allows you to browse forward and backward and a few other edits. Click through to see a description of some of the most useful buttons:

I should also add that this works for any file type. So if your videos are opening with iTunes and you want them to open with Windows Media Player, you simply follow the same steps, substituting those programs and file types for the ones listed above. I hope this helps! :)

Related posts:

  1. How to Show Picture Tasks in Windows XP
  2. How to Change Views in Windows Explorer – Intro
  3. How to Show Hidden Files & Folders in Windows XP
  4. How to Change Views – Details View
  5. Set a Static IP Address in Windows XP

Comments

3 Responses to “How to Change Which Program Opens Your JPG Files”

  1. Mary Jeanne Brown on October 16th, 2008 5:28 pm

    I was in your Sept 30 & Oct 7 “How to Organize your Digital Photos”. I have Windows XP Home Edition. I’m hoping you can help me find the “Picture Tasks” on my Windows Explorer. When I go into Windows Explorer, My Documents, My Pictures–what I get is: Folders (on the left) and my picture folders (on the right). I think you said if I want the “Picture Tasks” I should go to Start, My Pictures. I still do not get “Picture Tasks”. I just get my picture folders. Help! Am I missing a step? Also, I might add that I do not have Picture Manager. Could this be why I do not get the “Picture Tasks”?

    Thanks, I hope you can help me.

    Mary Jeanne

  2. brockangelo on October 17th, 2008 4:19 pm

    Thanks Mary Jeanne. Picture Tasks can be turned on, but it is a bit more thorough. I’m replying with a tutorial. Click here: How to Show Picture Tasks in Windows XP

  3. Jason on January 24th, 2010 1:22 pm

    Thanks! This is just what I needed, simple, fast, & effective!