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Inspiring
June 7, 2025
Answered

Cannot set Photshop as default app for opening jpg

I have tried to set Photoshopas my default app for opening  .jpg files. When I navigate to Photshop .exe file and open it it does not work, I can only open .jpgs by navigating to their locacation within Photshop file selector.  I'm running Windows 11 and I've noticed that Photoshop is not listed in default apps. I have no issues with psd. files , the Photoshop icon is visible next to the file, implying it's a Photoshop file. 

I've uninstalled and reinstalled Photoshop and I'm still getting the same problem. 

AxelMattCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 7, 2025

See here: 

https://www.photoshopessentials.com/basics/make-photoshop-your-default-image-editor-in-windows-11/

https://community.adobe.com/t5/photoshop-ecosystem-discussions/cannot-set-photoshop-as-default-app-for-jpg-on-windows-11-home/m-p/15341581

 

This has to be done as an Administrator or an user with Admin rights.

 

My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 26H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 9 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI

3 replies

Community Expert
July 3, 2025

It seems your Photoshop installation is faulty. you wrote that you do a reinstallation and using the cleaner tool. Do you've try a clean reinstallation?

If no, i recommend a complete and clean reinstallation by following the steps below:

 

If you're unable to install the cc desktop app at this stage, use an administrator account (solution 4 here,

https://helpx.adobe.com/creative-cloud/kb/creative-cloud-missing-damaged.html)

 

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My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 26H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 9 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI
bongpAuthor
Inspiring
July 3, 2025

Many thanks for the input, unfortunatly I still can't set Photoshop as default program to open jpg files. I have followed steps as instructed but when I get to the final "Photoshop.exe" I come back to the program selection screen.  As I stated I uninstalled and reinstalled Photoshop and run the Adobe cleaner. Ive taken some screenshots to illustrate.

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AxelMattCommunity ExpertCorrect answer
Community Expert
June 7, 2025
My System: Intel i7-8700K - 64GB RAM - NVidia Geforce RTX 3060 - Windows 11 Pro 26H2 -- LR-Classic 15 - Photoshop 27 - Nik Collection 9 - PureRAW 6 - Topaz Photo AI