In today’s digital world, choice is everything. We choose the clothes we wear, the music we listen to, and, most importantly, the applications we use. But have you ever felt like your computer is making those choices for you? For many users, Microsoft aggressively pushes Edge as the default browser, even after explicit changes are made. This can be incredibly frustrating, especially for those who prefer the features and functionalities of other browsers, like Brave.
I, for one, value having control over my browsing experience. Brave is my go-to browser because of its focus on privacy and security. It blocks ads and trackers by default, which not only improves browsing speed but also protects my online data. Additionally, Brave rewards users with BAT tokens for viewing privacy-respecting ads, offering a unique way to interact with the digital advertising landscape.
If you’re like me and want to take back control of your default browser, here’s a step-by-step guide on how to permanently set Brave (or any other browser you prefer) in Windows:
1. Disable the UCPD Service
This service is responsible for managing default program associations, and it can sometimes override your choices. Here’s how to disable it:
- Open an elevated PowerShell window (right-click Start, select PowerShell “Run as administrator”).
- Type the following command and press Enter:
New-ItemProperty -Path “HKLM:\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\UCPD” -Name “Start” -Value 4 -PropertyType DWORD -Force - Restart your computer.
2. Delete the “UCPD Velocity” Scheduled Task
This scheduled task automatically re-enables the UCPD service. Here’s how to delete it:
- Open Task Scheduler (Search for “Task Scheduler” from the Start menu).
- Navigate to: Task Scheduler Library -> Microsoft -> Windows -> AppxDeploymentClient
- Locate the “UCPD velocity” task in the central pane.
- Right-click on the task and select “Delete”.
- Confirm the deletion.
3. Set Brave (or your preferred browser) as Default
- Open Settings (Windows Key + I).
- Click on “Apps” and then “Default apps.”
- Under “Web browser,” click on the current default browser and choose Brave (or your preferred browser) from the list.
By following these steps, you’ll have successfully disabled the service and task that can interfere with your default browser settings. Brave (or your chosen browser) will now be your permanent default!