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How do I set Firefox 10.0.2 to be default browser in Windows 7, using a script or setup switch. "Firefox.exe -setDefaultBrowser" does NOT work.

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  • Last reply by John99

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I want to set Firefox as default browser for all my users.

I can do this by opening Firefox and go to Tools --> Options --> Advanced and hit the "Check now" button. That works fine, but I need to accomplish this automatically.

Running setup with the -setDefaultBrowser switch does NOT work. Running "firefox.exe -silent -SetDefaultBrowser" after setup does NOT work. Is this even possible? Or are we stuck with IE?

I want to set Firefox as default browser for all my users. I can do this by opening Firefox and go to Tools --> Options --> Advanced and hit the "Check now" button. That works fine, but I need to accomplish this automatically. Running setup with the -setDefaultBrowser switch does NOT work. Running "firefox.exe -silent -SetDefaultBrowser" after setup does NOT work. Is this even possible? Or are we stuck with IE?

Chosen solution

After reinstalling the computer it seems to be working now. Must have been some sort of bug. Thank you for your help.

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All Replies (8)

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hello, just tested it locally here with the command you've proposed & this seems to work without an issue. maybe you can try it with adding the full file-path or probably also make sure that is executed with admin privileges...

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Thank you for your reply, however it really does not work for me.

I have Firefox installed, as well as Internet Explorer 9. If I check "Default Programs --> Set Default Programs" in Windows 7 it states that Internet Explorer is default. If I create a shortcut on my desktop that points to "www.mozilla.org" for example, and double-click that shortcut, it will open in Internet Explorer.

I now run "%ProgramFiles%\Mozilla Firefox\Firefox.exe -silent -setDefaultBrowser" with administrative privileges. I look again in "Default programs" and i still says IE is default browser. If I click on my shortcut it still opens in IE.

If I change the setting manually from within Firefox it works fine.

Please help, I really can't make this work.

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& when you run it without the -silent switch for testing purposes once?

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I have tested that too. Only difference is that Firefox opens, but it does not change to default.

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hello, i'm sorry if it doesn't work this way then personally i also don't know any other alternative than to manually change browsers.

there is a bug that might be related to the issue https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=454328 but it looks like there has been no activity on it for a long time (which would be strange, since it would affect many instances where firefox is deployed in a larger environment & should certainly have seen more feedback).

Modified by philipp

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I do not now often use Windows, and someone else may well give you a correct answer but I am guessing that you should be looking at Windows settings not just Firefox configuration.

You surely need to set the Windows default browser. Not sure how that is done on multiple installs but it seems to be the reverse of this

Maybe these articles help

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Chosen Solution

After reinstalling the computer it seems to be working now. Must have been some sort of bug. Thank you for your help.

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jobr,
Thanks for posting back.

Glad it works now. I will mark the thread as solved.