Choose ONLYOFFICE or LibreOffice with Windows Default Apps

Prerequisites and compatibility​

Choose one suite as your primary default before changing file associations:

• Choose ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors if you mainly exchange modern Microsoft Office files such as .docx, .xlsx, and .pptx, and want one unified application for documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.
• Choose LibreOffice if you use OpenDocument files such as .odt, .ods, and .odp, or prefer separate applications:
• LibreOffice Writer for text documents
• LibreOffice Calc for spreadsheets
• LibreOffice Impress for presentations

You may install both suites, but Windows can assign only one default application to each file extension for your user account. Changing

to ONLYOFFICE does not automatically change

or

; each extension must be assigned separately.

Before starting:

• Close Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, ONLYOFFICE, and LibreOffice.
• Install ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors or LibreOffice from the publisher’s official installer or the Microsoft Store, if offered in your region.
• Sign in to the Windows account where you want the defaults to apply.
• Decide which file groups you actually want to change.

For most users, set only these core extensions first:

Do not automatically assign every listed extension. For example, leave

assigned to your preferred PDF reader unless you specifically want ONLYOFFICE or LibreOffice to handle PDFs. Also consider leaving

assigned to Notepad if you use it for scripts, logs, or configuration files.

Primary procedure: Set ONLYOFFICE or LibreOffice as the default app​

1. Confirm that Windows can see the office suite​

• Select Start.
• Type the name of the suite:
• ONLYOFFICE
• LibreOffice Writer
• Open the application once.
• Close it after its start screen appears.

Expected result: The suite opens normally. This confirms that the installation completed and gives Windows a chance to register the application as an available file handler.

If the program does not open, repair or reinstall it before changing defaults. Do not browse to the program’s

file as the first choice; selecting the registered application from Default apps is more reliable.

2. Open Default apps​

Use the path that matches your Windows version.

Windows 11​

• Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
• Select Apps in the left pane.
• Select Default apps.

You can also press Windows key + R, type the following command, and select OK:

Windows 10​

• Press Windows key + I to open Settings.
• Select Apps.
• Select Default apps in the left pane.

3. Set defaults by application on Windows 11​

This is the fastest method when you want to make several related assignments.

• In Settings > Apps > Default apps, use the Set defaults for applications search box.
• Type one of the following:
• ONLYOFFICE
• LibreOffice
• LibreOffice Writer
• LibreOffice Calc
• LibreOffice Impress
• Select the matching application from the results.

For ONLYOFFICE:

• Review the file types listed for ONLYOFFICE.
• Select the current default beside a file extension you want to change, such as .docx.
• In the Select a default app window, choose ONLYOFFICE.
• Select Set default.
• Repeat for the extensions you want, such as .doc, .docx, .xlsx, .ppt, and .pptx.

For LibreOffice:

• Open LibreOffice Writer and assign it to text-document extensions, such as .doc, .docx, .odt, and .rtf.
• Return to Default apps.
• Open LibreOffice Calc and assign it to spreadsheet extensions, such as .xls, .xlsx, .ods, and .csv.
• Return to Default apps again.
• Open LibreOffice Impress and assign it to presentation extensions, such as .ppt, .pptx, and .odp.

Expected result: The selected application appears beside each extension. No restart is normally required.

4. Set defaults by individual file type on Windows 11​

Use this method if you only want to change a few extensions or cannot find the application in the app list.

• Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
• In Set a default for a file type or link, enter the extension, including the period. For example:
  .docx
• Select the current application shown for that file type.
• Choose the suite:
• Select ONLYOFFICE for ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors.
• Select LibreOffice Writer for documents.
• Select LibreOffice Calc for spreadsheets.
• Select LibreOffice Impress for presentations.
• Select Set default if Windows displays that button.
• Repeat the process for each extension you want to change.

A practical set of assignments is:

5. Set defaults on Windows 10​

Windows 10 presents Default apps differently, but the outcome is the same.

• Open Settings > Apps > Default apps.
• Scroll down and select Choose default apps by file type.
• Wait for the extension list to load.
• Find an extension, such as .docx.
• Select the application currently shown to the right of that extension.
• Choose:
• ONLYOFFICE for ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors, or
• LibreOffice Writer, LibreOffice Calc, or LibreOffice Impress, as appropriate.
• Repeat for the extensions you want to associate.

If you prefer beginning with the application instead of the extension:

• Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
• Select Set defaults by app.
• Select ONLYOFFICE or the relevant LibreOffice component.
• Select Manage.
• Change the desired file types one at a time.

Expected result: The chosen application appears beside the extension in Choose default apps by file type.

Verification of success​

• Open File Explorer.
• Locate a real document of each type you changed, such as:
• one .docx file,
• one .xlsx file,
• one .pptx file.
• Double-click each file.

Expected results:

• With ONLYOFFICE selected, each supported file opens in ONLYOFFICE Desktop Editors.
• With LibreOffice selected:
• documents open in Writer,
• spreadsheets open in Calc,
• presentations open in Impress.
• Windows should not show an How do you want to open this file? prompt for file types you assigned.

To verify the association without opening a file:

• Windows 11: Return to Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for the extension, and confirm the selected default.
• Windows 10: Return to Settings > Apps > Default apps > Choose default apps by file type, find the extension, and confirm the app shown beside it.

A Windows restart is not normally necessary. If a file is still open in another office application, close all office applications and try again. Restart Windows only if the association continues to display correctly in Settings but File Explorer behaves differently.

Alternate method: Change one file type from File Explorer​

This is useful when you receive an unfamiliar file type and want to change only that extension.

• In File Explorer, right-click a file of the type you want to change.
• Select Open with.
• Select Choose another app.
• Choose ONLYOFFICE, LibreOffice Writer, LibreOffice Calc, or LibreOffice Impress.
• Enable Always use this app to open [extension] files.
• Select OK.

For example, right-clicking an

file and choosing LibreOffice Writer changes the default for

; it does not change

,

, or any other extension.

If the preferred application is not listed:

• Select More apps.
• Check whether the suite appears lower in the list.
• If it still does not appear, cancel the dialog and use Settings > Apps > Default apps after opening the suite once from Start.

Avoid choosing a random executable through Look for another app on this PC unless the suite is installed but fails to register. A manually selected executable can open the file, but it may not provide the complete document, spreadsheet, or presentation integration expected from the installed suite.

Troubleshooting and rollback​

ONLYOFFICE or LibreOffice does not appear in Default apps​

• Open the suite from Start once, then close it.
• Return to Settings > Apps > Default apps and search again.
• Go to Settings > Apps > Installed apps on Windows 11, or Settings > Apps & features on Windows 10.
• Find ONLYOFFICE or LibreOffice.
• If available, select the app’s menu and choose Modify, Repair, or Uninstall.

If no repair option exists, uninstall the suite, restart Windows, install it again using an administrator account, open it once, and then repeat the default-app steps.

The selected default appears in Settings, but files still open in Microsoft Office​

This usually means you changed a different extension than the one used by the file.

• In File Explorer, select the file.
• Check its full name and extension.
• If extensions are hidden:
• Windows 11: Select View > Show > File name extensions.
• Windows 10: Select the View tab, then enable File name extensions.
• Return to Default apps and assign the exact extension shown.

For example, assigning

does not affect

,

, or

. Assign those formats separately only if you use them regularly.

LibreOffice opens the wrong component​

Assign the extension to the specific LibreOffice component:

• .docx should normally use LibreOffice Writer.
• .xlsx should normally use LibreOffice Calc.
• .pptx should normally use LibreOffice Impress.

Open Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for the extension, select its current default, and choose the correct component.

A work or school PC will not keep your choice​

Your organization may manage default-app associations through device policy, a signed configuration file, endpoint-management software, or the installation of another office suite.

• Check whether Some settings are managed by your organization appears in Settings.
• Try changing one extension through Settings > Apps > Default apps.
• If it reverts after signing out, restarting, or receiving company updates, contact your IT administrator.

Do not attempt Registry edits or third-party “default app fixer” utilities on a managed device. They may violate organizational policy and usually will not override centrally managed settings.

You accidentally changed too many associations​

Change only the affected extensions back individually through Default apps. This preserves your other app choices.

Warning: Windows provides a Reset option that restores Microsoft-recommended default apps. Using it can replace many of your current file and link associations, including browser, PDF, image, music, and video choices.

Click to expand...

Use Reset only if many associations are incorrect and you are prepared to reconfigure them:

• Windows 11: Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll to Reset all default apps, then select Reset.
• Windows 10: Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll to Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults, then select Reset.

After resetting, return to Default apps and reassign ONLYOFFICE or LibreOffice only to the file types you intend to use.

References​

1. Related coverage: libreoffice.org
   
   

   System requirements — LibreOffice

   LibreOffice system requirements.

   www.libreoffice.org
2. Related coverage: cs.libreoffice.org
   
   

   Systémové požadavky | LibreOffice - Svobodný kancelářský balík - Smysluplný projekt - Skvělí lidé

   cs.libreoffice.org
3. Related coverage: help.libreoffice.org
   
   

   Changing the Association of Microsoft Office Document Types

   help.libreoffice.org
4. Related coverage: documentation.libreoffice.org
   
   Chapter 1 Introducing LibreOffice
5. Related coverage: help.libreoffice.org
   
   

   General

   help.libreoffice.org
6. Related coverage: documentation.libreoffice.org
   
   

   Getting Started with LibreOffice 5.0

   PDF document

   documentation.libreoffice.org
7. Related coverage: es.libreoffice.org
   
   

   Requisitos del sistema — LibreOffice

   Requisitos del sistema para LibreOffice.

   es.libreoffice.org
8. Related coverage: newdesign2.libreoffice.org
   
   

   Systeemvereisten — LibreOffice

   Systeemvereisten voor LibreOffice.

   newdesign2.libreoffice.org
9. Related coverage: helpcenter.onlyoffice.com
   
   

   Desktop Editors for Windows system requirements

   Desktop Editors for Windows system requirements

   helpcenter.onlyoffice.com
10. Related coverage: helpcenter.onlyoffice.com
    
    

    Installing ONLYOFFICE Docs Developer Edition locally on Windows

    Installing ONLYOFFICE Docs Developer Edition for Windows on a local server

    helpcenter.onlyoffice.com