How to Change File Associations in Windows 10?

Change File Associations in Windows 10:

You're not alone if you've ever had the experience of Windows trying to open a file in the wrong application. Although you can get around it by using the "Open With" command, there is a technique to avoid having to do it every time: Learn how to rename and rename files.

If you're unsure which file type you want to alter the association for, right-click the file you want to modify the association for and select Properties from the drop-down menu. At the top of the window, look for Type of File.

The three-letter descriptor indicates its file type next to it. You can change each file type individually or all of them from a single location. Let’s see How you can change file associations in Windows 10.

Changing One File Type

The quickest way to change a single file type is to use the Open With menu, which we explained earlier. Skip to the next section if you want to alter many file types at once.

Step 1: Right-click a file of the kind you want to change the association for and right Click.

Step 2: From the pop-up menu, choose Open With.

Step 3: After that, Windows will present you with an app (or a list of apps) to choose as the default for that file type. If you find the one you want, click it, and Windows will open it in the app you selected.

If your desired app isn't shown, choose to Search the Microsoft Store from the menu that shows when you select Open With or choose Choose Another App from an enlarged list of already-installed apps from the menu that comes when you select Open With.

Step 4: Click the grey OK button once you've discovered and picked the app you want. Before you hit the OK button, you can also check the box labeled Always Use This Program to Open [Type of File] Files if you want that app to open all files of that type in the future.

Any files of that type will now be opened with your preferred application.

Changing Any and All

The Settings menu is the ideal place to go if you want to change a few different file types — or even all of them.

Step 1: From the resulting menu, press the Windows + X keys and select Settings.

Alternatively, use the Windows search box to look for Settings and then click the appropriate result.

Step 2: Choose Apps from the drop-down menu.

Step 3: From the left-hand menu, select Default Apps.

Step 4: If necessary, scroll down and click Choose Default Apps by File Type.

On the right-hand side, you'll see a list of all the file formats that Windows 10 supports, along with their associated programs. In addition, a grey plus sign (+) icon will appear if a file type does not have a specific application set up to accept it.

Step 5: Find the file type for which you wish to change the file association by scrolling down the list. To the right of the application, click the Plus icon.

Step 6: From the list that appears, select your selected application and click its related icon.

There will be several options for some file kinds, while others will have none. Should you be unable to discover an option that meets your needs, there are two more options. You may either use the web to find a compatible app or use the Look for an App in the Microsoft Store option to go to the Microsoft Store.

Note: The Microsoft Store may not yield any results for relevant apps for a specific file type in some situations or return irrelevant search results. If this happens to you, you'll need to figure out which app will operate with the new file type.

You're ready to go once you've decided on your preferred application. This easy adjustment has successfully reset the default application for your desired file type; now, this software will always open when you select a specific file type.

If you need to revert to the original application, use the actions outlined above to return to the default settings. You can also go to the Default Apps section of the Windows 10 Settings menu, scroll down, and select the Reset button under the phrase Reset to the Microsoft Recommended Defaults as we did before.