Register Firefox Portable with Default Apps or Default Programs in Windows

Firefox logoMozilla Firefox®, Portable Edition is the popular Mozilla Firefox web browser bundled with a PortableApps.com Launcher as a portable app, so you can take your bookmarks, extensions, and saved passwords with you.

This article lists two methods with which you can register Mozilla Firefox Portable Edition with Default Apps or Default Programs in Windows Vista through Windows 10/11.

Register Firefox Portable with Default Apps

Method 1: Using a VBScript

  1. Download the script firefoxportable.vbs.
  2. Save the script to the same folder as FirefoxPortable.exe. It’s an important step.
    firefox portable - default apps register - vbscript
  3. To add/register Firefox Portable with Default Apps or Default Programs, double-click firefoxportable.vbs
    firefox portable - default apps register - vbscript
  4. In the input box, type REGISTER, and click OK.

That’s it! Firefox Portable is now listed on Default Apps

firefox portable - default apps register - vbscript

tips bulb iconYou can customize the default app name by which the program appears in Default Apps or Default Programs. To do so, use Notepad and edit the ApplicationName value data in line 120 of the VBScript.


Method 2: Using a standalone utility

This method was originally written for Windows Vista but works on all versions of Windows. However, you need to install the legacy version of .Net Framework on Windows 10/11 for this program to work.



  1. Download registerfp.zip and save it to Desktop.
  2. Unzip the archive and extract the contents to a folder.
  3. Double-click the file RegisterFirefoxPortable.exe to run it.
  4. When you see the User Account Control dialog, click Allow.
    register firefox with default programs and default apps
  5. Click the Browse button and locate the Firefox Portable executable
  6. Click Register

Firefox Portable is now registered with the Default Programs applet.

register firefox with default programs and default apps

As you can see, “Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition” entry is now listed on the Default Apps page in Windows 10 Settings. You’ll need to manually click on the web browsers entry in Default Apps and select “Mozilla Firefox, Portable Edition” to set it as default.

firefox portable register with default apps in windows 10
Firefox Portable registered with Default Apps

Editor’s note: If the drive letter for your removable device (which contains Firefox Portable) changes, you’ll need to re-register the program using the above script or utility.


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Ramesh Srinivasan is passionate about Microsoft technologies and he has been a consecutive ten-time recipient of the Microsoft Most Valuable Professional award in the Windows Shell/Desktop Experience category, from 2003 to 2012. He loves to troubleshoot and write about Windows. Ramesh founded Winhelponline.com in 2005.

35 thoughts on “Register Firefox Portable with Default Apps or Default Programs in Windows”

  1. Someone on the portable apps site suggested the following. If this is the case, can you update your registerfp? THANKS!

    Did you perhaps make a batch file that uses %1 as the input parameter?

    If so, try changing the %1 to “%1” which will force Windows to NOT break the
    input string at the space (which is how it sees it as two parameters).

    | Link: portableapps . com/node/24299#comment-154531

    Reply
  2. Windows 2008 R2 SP1 + FirefoxPortable 4.0
    After using your tool, the register process is ok. But when a FirefoxPortable is running, clicking the link from the 3rd program (eg. MSN), it prompts “Firefox is already running but is not responding”. How to resolve it ?

    Woo

    Reply
    • You have to point to the launcher for the portable browser not the opera.exe or whatever app, so using say orpera portable you choose launcher.exe not opera.exe, at least it works for me.

  3. It doesn’t work when using Outlook 2013 when I try clicking on a link in a mail to be opened with FFportable on W8.
    It still says “Your organization’s policies are preventing us from completing this action for you.”

    Reply
  4. Hi, this is great app. Please can you do the same from Thunderbird Portable.

    Thank You!!

    PD: Sorry for my English

    Reply
  5. I have used FF for almost a decade now, and got used to browse with my session saved – tabs, windows, and tab groups. And I would never use my main browser with facebook for example, because of tracking etc.
    Also, it becomes annoying if you just want to open 1 link you got sent via instant messaging etc., in which case I use a installation of Firefox Portable, but had to start it manually before. Also, program installations and updates like to open the default browser unasked.
    Your little tool fixed that for me, thank you very much! 🙂

    Reply
  6. It does not work correctly because essentially it doesn’t really set it as the “Default Browser”. When it does is only associating those files and protocols with ffp.

    What it should have done is instead associate ffp with htmlfile, http, and https in classes registry.

    Reply
  7. awsome!!!!!! works in Win 8.1
    Used it on Opera portable (just point to launcher.exe in the directory where you keep Opera) then the Opera icon becomes available to associate file type (.htm/.html) and protocol (HTTP/HTTPS)

    Reply
  8. Is there a way to do this for other portable apps like VLC for example? Or maybe you could tell us how to do it in the registry on our own.

    Reply
  9. After using your tool, the register process is ok. But when a FirefoxPortable is running, clicking the link from the 3rd program, it prompts “Firefox is already running but is not responding”. How to resolve it ?

    Reply
  10. Thank you very much. I have been using this for many years, working with just one Firefox in a multiboot environment.

    No doubt you have spent much time and energy to find out how this works. Could you perhaps use that knowledge to make one for ThunderbirdPortable as well? I think it would be greatly appreciated.

    Reply
  11. Download link for registerfp.zip is not working anymore, anyone kindly enough got a backup will be able to upload it? Much thanks!

    Reply
  12. when i use this to open certain links, it will says instance of firefox portable is already running, but it is working when i use chrome portable. is there any workaround?

    Reply
  13. RegisterFP needs needlessly an old .NET which needs to be installed. For simple Reg hacks like this no bloatet runtime lib shoud be needed.

    Reply

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