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How can I get documents to open in the desktop application rather than in the browser app by default

Anonymous
2025-02-19T01:30:27+00:00

Split from this thread.

Responding to this message:

Thank you for the comment. However I read one post on this topic that reported noted that problems occur when browser version of Word is used. I looked through my settings and found that browser was now default. I unclicked that problem has resolved, to my delight.

It is not clear how browser version became default. I never consciously changed it. I recently received and opened a large Word document from someone I who is a Mac user and had just converted that document to Word. I wonder if that file may have affected my settings?

Hi, I'm struggling with this. I am not confident enough to attempt the complex solution outlined above. How did you change the browser so it was not the default? I don't know which setting this is. Thanks.

Microsoft 365 and Office | Word | Other | Windows

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  1. Jay Freedman 207.6K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-02-19T01:21:26+00:00

    How did you change the browser so it was not the default? I don't know which setting this is. Thanks.

    In desktop Word, go to File > Options (if you don't see an Options item in the left column, but there is a More... item, click that to see Options). In the Options page, click Advanced in the left column. Partway down the page, under the heading "File open preference", click the dropdown and select "Desktop" instead of "Browser".

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  2. Charles Kenyon 167.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-02-19T02:09:12+00:00

    Jessica,

    Thanks to your note, I noticed that the browser app also has three dots on the right, although in a different spot.

    I added a screenshot to say that the procedure in the article is not for the browser version.

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  3. Charles Kenyon 167.1K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2025-02-19T01:39:09+00:00

    Hi Jessica,

    I moved your question into its own thread to get you the best answers to it.

    I think that Jay has answered it.

    I was the author of the article to which you posted the comment and question. That article only applies to a rare situation where someone's system was in Full Screen mode when Microsoft changed the settings to make it not possible to change out of Full Screen. If changing that open in desktop application option fixes your problem you do not need the complex procedure.

    If it does not, and you meet the criteria at the beginning of the article, please write back in that article.

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