How to Make Thunderbird & Picasa My Defaults

Windows 7 comes with an application for photo viewing, and Microsoft recommends the free Windows Live Mail application for email. However, you may have certain third-party programs that you prefer. For example, Mozilla Thunderbird is a competing email application, and Google's Picasa is a competing application for photo viewing. If you prefer to use these programs, set them as your default email and photo viewing programs using the options available in Windows.

Instructions

1. Open the Start menu, and click "Default Programs" on the right side.

2. Click "Set program access and computer defaults" near the bottom of the menu.

3. Click the "Custom" radio button under "Choose a configuration," then click the double arrow on the right side.

4. Click the "Mozilla Thunderbird" radio button under "Choose a default e-mail program."

5. Click "OK" to return to the "Default Programs" menu.

6. Click "Set your default programs."

7. Click "Picasa Photo Viewer" on the left side of the window under "Programs."

8. Click "Set this program as default" on the right side of the window.

9. Click "OK," then close the "Default Programs" window to return to the desktop.

Tips & Warnings

• You can also use these steps to set Thunderbird and Picasa as your default email and photo viewing programs in Windows Vista.

References

• Microsoft: Change Which Programs Windows Uses by Default