Set the Teams desktop app as the default for opening files in Teams/SharePoint Online?

Question

How can we make the Teams desktop app the default application for opening files directly from Teams and SharePoint Online?

Answer 1

Here's the solution that I have found. It still does not give you the option to set Default in the app, but when you click on a file it automatically opens in the app.

Close Teams, making sure it is not running in the background.

Locate the file "app_settings.json" most likely under the users folder followed by AppData\Local\Packages\MSTeams_8wekyb3d8bbwe\LocalCache\Microsoft\MSTeams

Open it with your preferred package - Notepad will do.

Find the "open_file_in_desktop_app":false and change it to read "open_file_in_desktop_app":true save the file and close it, relaunch Teams

It will now open files directly in the desktop app

Below is the data that is in the file "app.settings.json"

{"install_source":0,"theme":3,"zoom_factor":1.0,"language":"en-GB","app_launch_count":0,"first_app_launch_time":0,"core_launch_count":0,"first_core_launch_time":0,"last_ddv_start_time":0,"ddv_enabled":false,"ddv_connection_string":"","default_local_recording_location":"","default_download_location":"","prompt_download_location":false,"user_modified_auto_start":true,"open_app_in_background":false,"open_file_in_desktop_app":false,"keep_app_running_on_close":true,"main_window_bounds":{"size":{"width":1466,"height":825},"pos":{"x":227,"y":103}},"main_window_state":0,"main_window_state_before_restart":256,"main_window_maximized":false,"most_recent_cloud":"prod","active_users":[{"id":"2ae40377-d27f-482f-afb7-14fc360a2563","state":5,"cloudType":1},{"id":"1af82f3f-da4e-4cd5-acab-1d345a23c9ef","state":5,"cloudType":1}],"active_clouds":[{"teamsCloudType":1}],"public_preview":false,"public_preview_previously_set":false,"web_client_version_used":"24020205514","enable_third_party_devices_service":false,"third_party_devices_list":[],"storage_partition_enabled":true,"is_t22_enabled":false}

Answer 2

Hi,

I have the same issue, except Desktop is not an option under File open preference. How do I make Desktop an available option?

Thanks,

Judy

Answer 3

Dear Terrance Abbott,

Good day! Thank you for posting to Microsoft Community. We are happy to help you.

Based on your description, are you referring to opening all office 365 files from Teams in Teams or in the Desktop? There are three options to open the file from Teams, always open word, PowerPoint and Excel files in: Teams, Desktop or Browser.

To set the Teams desktop app as the default for opening office files in Teams and SharePoint Online, open Microsoft Teams and click on ... besides your profile picture in the top right corner > Select Settings from the dropdown menu > Click on Files and links in the left-hand menu > Scroll down to the Files open preference section > Select Teams(If you want to set Teams as default) or Desktop (If you want to set Desktop as default) **** from the File open preference dropdown menu. See the screenshot below.

This will set the desktop app or Teams as the default for opening files like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint directly from Teams. Refer to How To Open Files In Desktop App By Default In Microsoft Teams | Microsoft Community Hub.

Let me know if you need any more help with this! Please understand that our initial response may not always immediately resolve the issue. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution. Thank you for your cooperation.

Answer 4

I had the same problem

Answer 5

Hi,

I am experiencing the same issue. However, only on certain user accounts.

I have the desktop app preference on mine, but others in my team do not have that option.

Please advise.