batch or registry file to make Firefox default browser

[anonymous_user]

I find it annoying having to make Firefox my default browser on new installs. Is there a batch or registry file to do this?

[srikat]

http://windowsxp.mvps.org/defaultbrowser.htm

[ricktendo]

I think, never tried it...in your 7zip or winrar sfx add a second command to run

firefox.exe -silent -setDefaultBrowser

Edited April 27, 2008 by ricktendo64

[anonymous_user]

Thanks ricktendo64. The switches work well.

Edited April 27, 2008 by anonymous_user

[nomadturk]

Doesn't work for me!

I'm installing Firefox 3.0.5 from RunOnceEx with -ms -setDefaultBrowser switches but... No help. Internet Explorer still comes as the default browser.

Is there any other switch or ...?

Opera registers itself without even asking. Why can't firefox do it..

It's trivial but, i'ld like my windows to have Firefox as the default browser from start.

What i could come up with yet is this:

"%programfiles%\Mozilla Firefox\firefox.exe" -silent -setDefaultBrowser

But installing it AS the default browser would be better if possible.

Edited December 27, 2008 by nomadturk

[Martin H]

It's important to note that the '-setDefaultBrowser' switch isn't supported by the installer, but only by the firefox.exe executable in '%programfiles%\Mozilla Firefox'...

If that switch has stopped working now(i don't now as i use Opera), then atleast here is a regfile with the captured reg-entries that Firefox v2.0.0.4 added when selecting OK to make it the default browser(beware - fixed path's):

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE,1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="\"%1\",,0,0,,,,"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@="Firefox"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE -url \"%1\" -requestPending"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.html]
@="FirefoxHTML"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.htm]
@="FirefoxHTML"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\https\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE,1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\https\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="\"%1\",,0,0,,,,"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\https\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@="Firefox"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\https\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE -url \"%1\" -requestPending"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.xht]
@="FirefoxHTML"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\gopher\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE,1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\gopher\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="\"%1\",,0,0,,,,"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\gopher\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@="Firefox"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\gopher\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE -url \"%1\" -requestPending"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE,1"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\shell\open\ddeexec]
@="\"%1\",,0,0,,,,"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
@="Firefox"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE -url \"%1\" -requestPending"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.shtml]
@="FirefoxHTML"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.xhtml]
@="FirefoxHTML"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet]
@="FIREFOX.EXE"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\DefaultIcon]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE,0"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode]
@="Firefox &Safemode"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE -safe-mode"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\properties]
@="Firefox &Options"

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\properties\command]
@="C:\\PROGRA~1\\MOZILL~1\\FIREFOX.EXE -preferences"

Btw nomadturk, Opera dosen't automatically set itself as default browser either, and like Firefox, asks upon second startup if it should be made the default browser or not... If anyone want's it, then i also have the regfile for Opera...

Edit: Ooops, used 'code' instead of 'codebox' tags for the reg-entries...

Edited December 28, 2008 by Martin H

[nomadturk]

This batch file should do it i assume. It doesn't have Fixed paths but variables instead.

Hmm, i don't know. I think i'll stick to running it as -silent -setDefaultBrowser instead.

(:

@ECHO OFF
> "%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\DefaultIcon]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE,1"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="\"%1\",,0,0,,,,"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="Firefox"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\HTTP\shell\open\command]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE -url \"%1\" -requestPending"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.html]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="FirefoxHTML"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.htm]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="FirefoxHTML"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\https\DefaultIcon]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE,1"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\https\shell\open\ddeexec]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="\"%1\",,0,0,,,,"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\https\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="Firefox"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\https\shell\open\command]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE -url \"%1\" -requestPending"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.xht]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="FirefoxHTML"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\gopher\DefaultIcon]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE,1"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\gopher\shell\open\ddeexec]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="\"%1\",,0,0,,,,"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\gopher\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="Firefox"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\gopher\shell\open\command]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE -url \"%1\" -requestPending"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\DefaultIcon]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE,1"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\shell\open\ddeexec]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="\"%1\",,0,0,,,,"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\shell\open\ddeexec\Application]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="Firefox"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\ftp\shell\open\command]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE -url \"%1\" -requestPending"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.shtml]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="FirefoxHTML"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\.xhtml]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="FirefoxHTML"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="FIREFOX.EXE"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\DefaultIcon]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE,0"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="Firefox &Safemode"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\safemode\command]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE -safe-mode"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\open\command]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\properties]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="Firefox &Options"
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO.
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Clients\StartMenuInternet\FIREFOX.EXE\shell\properties\command]
>>"%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg" ECHO @="%programfiles%\\Mozilla Firefox\\FIREFOX.EXE -preferences"
START /WAIT REGEDIT /S "%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg"
DEL "%Temp%.\appFirefox.reg"