Changing Standard App via Powershell | PowerShell | Page 1

grand sable Oct 28, 2025, 8:41 AM

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Hi! Is it possible to change the standard app via Powershell? In my case its pdf, but I feel like everything I try doesn't work out. >_>

Specifically got the task at work and figured it would be super easy, as setting it manually takes like 5 seconds.

Tried to edit the Registry (No Permission) Dism (No Permission)..

Any hint would be appreciated. :(

Read about SetUserFTA, but very unlikely I am allowed to use 3rd Party Software.
Just feels like I am missing something since manually changing the setting is so easy.

amber nebula Oct 28, 2025, 8:46 AM

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There is no official API from Microsoft aside from asking the user their choice interactively. The SetUserFTA is a 3rd party implementation that reversed engineered the hashing mechanism in the registry that stores the valur

grand sable Oct 28, 2025, 8:48 AM

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Oh I see :( I guess I could let a script open the settings to change it manually but thats kinda scuffed 😭

rich forum Oct 28, 2025, 11:57 AM

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I use this: https://github.com/DanysysTeam/PS-SFTA

GitHub

GitHub - DanysysTeam/PS-SFTA: PowerShell Set File Type Association

PowerShell Set File Type Association. Contribute to DanysysTeam/PS-SFTA development by creating an account on GitHub.

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user logon script in GPO that uses that and then does some simple logic to set pdf viewer based on what they have installed


# Check for Nuance PDF
if (Test-Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\ScanSoft\PDF Converter 8.0') {
  Set-FTA 'GaaihoDoc.Document' .pdf
}
# Check for Acrobat 2020
elseif (Test-Path 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Adobe Acrobat\2020') {
  Set-FTA 'Acrobat.Document.2020' .pdf
}
# Adobe Reader
else {
  Set-FTA 'AcroExch.Document.2020' .pdf
}

grand sable Oct 28, 2025, 12:14 PM

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I will look into that, thank you already!!

rich forum Oct 28, 2025, 12:19 PM

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yw 🙂

#Changing Standard App via Powershell