How to change the file association with the default program on Windows 10

Windows 10 opens different types of files by using a certain program. It does this through file links, where a software or application is set by default for that file type.

If you want to set a default program or change file associations in Windows 10, choose one of the methods below.

What are file associations on Windows 10?

Each file on your system is saved in a specific format such as JPG image file, DOC document. Only related programs can open those files. For example, an image file like JPG cannot be opened in Word word processor. Instead, you have to open it with the Windows 10 Photos app .

In order to save time for users, Windows specifies the default program to open each file type. As a result, Windows users do not have to spend time selecting each time they need to access them. However, you can change these defaults.

That is why sometimes you need to adjust the file type link. Fortunately, this is easy to do. Now let's learn together the file type, then, to the methods of changing the default file open program combination on Windows 10.

What is your file type?

Before changing the default combination, you need to know what kind of file you are storing. First, open File Explorer and navigate to the directory where the file is located. Next, right-click on this file and select Properties .

A new window with details about the file will appear. The type of file tells you the file format. Opens with is the program that opens it.

You can set this up so that the format shows the file name in File Explorer . The steps are as follows: open File Explorer > click the View tab . Then check the File name extensions box .

How to change the file type combination in Windows 10

There are 3 quick and easy ways to change file type association with the default program on Windows 10.

1. Open With

You can change file type links directly from File Explorer. To do this, right-click the file, and then point to Open with .

You will see a list of programs that can be used to open the file, but this is only a disposable option and will not permanently change your settings. If you want to change it forever, select Choose another app .

Now select the application from the list you want to use to open the desired file format. If you don't see the program you need, scroll down and select More apps for more options.

If you still don't have the tools, choose Look for another app on this PC . After that, you can go to Program Files > select the desired program executable. Check the box Always use this app to open .X files at the bottom of the window. This action will permanently change the file type combination. Finally click OK .

2. Set default file combination in Settings

The best place to completely change file association and set default apps is via Settings.

First, press the Windows+ key Ito open Settings. Go to Apps> Default apps .

Here, you can set and use default apps for email, maps, music ... Click on that application to make other selections from the list.

You can click Reset when you want to bring everything back to the state Microsoft originally suggested. As expected, the default Microsoft programs on Windows 10 will be selected to open files, for example, listening to music with Groove Music , using Edge web browser

Scroll down, you will see 3 options to tweak file links:

1. Choose default applications by file type - Select the default applications by file type
2. Choose default applications by protocol - Select the default applications according to the network protocol
3. Set defaults by app - Set default apps

Selecting a file type allows you to set specific programs to open JPG, DOC files ... Perhaps this is the option you need the most.

Select the protocol for the task or link. For example, when accessing the URL link : calculator , you can set the program to use. Most are application specific, so you rarely need to change them.

Lastly, installing by app allows you to manage the entire program with the type of file it combines with the same protocols in one place.

3. Delete the file association with the default program using the Command Prompt

Cannot reset program link to open default file type via Settings . To do this, you need to use the Command Prompt.

Click Start , type cmd . It will find Command Prompt . Right-click on the entry and click Run as administrator .

Type assoc > press Enter , it will open all file types and associated programs respectively. To quickly check certain file types, type: assoc .ext

Replace ext with the file format. For example, enter assoc .jpg . You will see the program open a JPG file.

To delete the association with this program, type: assoc .ext =

Again, replace ext . You can type the first command to check if this command has been executed or not. If so, you will see the message " file association not found ".

Backup and restore program link open file

Windows 10 resets the default apps by changing the file type combination after each update. The best way for you to change this is to back up file type links and restore them when Windows 10 updates have tampered with them.

1. Use the Default Programs Editor.

The easiest way to backup and restore a file type combination with an open program of choice is to use a third-party utility called Default Programs Editor .

Once downloaded and installed, open it and click Create or restore a backup of registry settings .

Click Create a backup . The Default Programs Editor will process and add an entry to the table with the date and time.

When you need to restore, or return to this screen, click on the item> click Restore selected backup . Finally, restart the computer.

2. Use the Registry

You can also directly access the registry to back up file type links. However, this action is a bit more complicated. Sometimes, it also leads to permission errors when restoring some combination. Therefore, use it as a last resort.

Press Windows+ key Rto open Run . Type regedit > press Enter to open Registry Editor . Now move to the following location: HKEY_CURRENT_USER \ Software \ Microsoft \ Windows \ CurrentVersion \ Explorer \ FileExts

Right-click FileExts (or sub-folder you want), select Export , destination location and backup name of the .reg file .

When you need to restore this backup, right-click and the corresponding .reg file that you saved earlier, then select Merge . This action will overwrite the current settings in the registry and restore the backup configuration.

With the above methods, you will have full control over the program to open the appropriate file type on Windows 10. Hope the article is helpful for you.