How to Change File Associations in Windows 10

Microsoft uses file associations to set default programs for opening different file types on all its operating systems. As a result, when you open a file, be it text, image, or document, on your Windows PC, it automatically opens that file in a compatible program.

While the default file associations work pretty well, there are times when you might want to replace them with third-party programs.

In this guide, we’ll take a closer look at Windows file associations and share the different methods you can use to change file associations in Windows 10.

What is Windows File Association?

File association is an essential component of an operating system that associates different kinds of files supported on your system with compatible applications, so you don’t have to manually select the right program for a file whenever you want to open it. For example, .txt files typically open with Notepad and .jpg files with a photo viewer, and .mp4 files with a media player.

All major operating systems—Linux, macOS, and Windows—have their way of implementing file-type associations. Talking about Windows, in particular, the operating system uses the “open” verb to invoke the associated program for a file type and present it to the user to perform an edit or some other action. Each file type is automatically identified by its extension (like . Txt, Jpg, Mp4) and is linked to a specific application.

Determining File Associations of a File Type

Before you jump in and start changing the default program on your system, you first need to determine the current association for the file type whose default application you want to change.

To determine file associations of a file type, open File Explorer and navigate to the folder that contains files of the file type you want to modify.

For example, to discover the default file association for the .txt type, go to a folder containing text (.txt) files.

Next, right-click on a file and select Properties from the menu. Check the values against the file type and Open with fields in the Properties window. The type of file, as its name suggests, tells you the file type and its extension. In our example, it’s a Text Document.

On the other hand, Opens identifies the current program or application assigned to open the selected file. In our case, this is Notepad.

How to Change File Associations in Windows 10

Microsoft offers three ways to change file type associations in Windows 10, each with advantages and scope of use.

1. Changing File Associations Using Open With: Quick and Easy Method

If you’ve been a Windows user for some time, you’re probably already aware of the Open With method: it’s the easiest way to change file associations on Windows.

Follow the steps below to change the default file association using Open With:

1. Go to the folder holding the file(s) whose association you wish to change.
2. Right-click on a file, hover over Open With, and select Choose another app.
   
3. Select an application from the list in the How do you want to open this file window.
4. Tick the checkbox next to Always use this app to open .ext files, where .ext is the extension of the file you’ve selected.
   E.g., .txt for text files, .jpg and .png for image files.
   
5. Hit OK.

If, for some reason, you don’t see your desired program on the list, scroll down and select Look for another app on this PC. Then, use File Explorer to navigate to the installation path of the program you want to use, select it, and hit OK.

2. Changing File Associations Using Settings: Ideal for Managing Multiple File Types

Windows 10 Settings offers a more granular way of managing file associations on your PC. It presents you with all the different file types in use so you can easily change their default programs. Moreover, you can change the default apps for email, music, maps, and web browsing.

To change file associations from Settings, use the following steps:

1. Hit the Windows + I key shortcut to open the Settings. Here, go to Apps > Default apps.
2. Scroll down and select Choose default apps by file type.
   
3. From the list of file associations, tap on the application corresponding to the extension of the file type you want to modify.
   
4. Click on a program in the list that you want to use to open this file type.

This method lets you choose default apps by protocol and set defaults by app options in step 2. While the former allows you to choose the default program for actions or links, the latter lets you manage an entire program (associated file types and protocols).

3. Changing File Associations Using Command Prompt: For Advanced Users

Even though both the methods we’ve listed so far do the job, if you want a quick and efficient way of changing file associations on your computer, you should consider using the Command Prompt.

To use Command Prompt for changing file associations, follow these steps:

1. Press the Windows + X shortcut to bring up the Power Users Menu and select Command Prompt (Admin) from the menu. [Click Yes in the User Account Control window.]
2. In the CMD window, type assoc followed by the file extension whose default program you want to determine and hit Enter.For example, to know the default association for .txt files, run:
   assoc .txt
3. Run your command in the following syntax to change file associations:
   assoc file_extension="path_to_program"
For example, to set Notepad as the default program for .txt files run:
   assoc .txt="C:\Program Files\Windows\System32\notepad.exe"
4. Finally, verify the changes using the syntax below:
   assoc file_extension

   Eg:
   assoc .txt

If the output returns Notepad or the application name you set for that file type, you’ve successfully changed its file association. In case it doesn’t, perform the steps again.

Resetting File Associations in Windows 10

If you’ve misconfigured file associations, you can reset them to change their file associations back to the default apps. Follow the steps below to reset app defaults in Windows 10.

1. Hit the Windows + I shortcut to open Settings.
2. Select Apps and choose Default Apps from the left-hand menu.
3. Scroll down to the bottom and hit the Reset button below Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults.
   

Common Errors That Occur While Changing File Types and How To Fix Them

File associations are part of system settings. Changing them might affect how your computer handles file types. Here are the most common issues that can arise while changing file associations and how to fix them:

• File doesn’t open with the new program: This is the most common issue because the chosen file might not be compatible with the selected program. To fix this, select a different program and verify if it works.
• File type associations are not changing by default: If the file associations are not applying to the new program by default, Go to settings > apps > default apps > choose default apps by file type, and manually set the desired program.
• Error message while opening files: Verify if the program supports the file type; you can change the program or reinstall the program if necessary to fix the error.
• Multiple file types affected: If you accidentally messed with all file types, you can easily reset them from the settings. View the Resetting File Associations section in Windows 10 for detailed steps.

Those are the common errors that occur while changing file associations on Windows 10. You can reset the file associations to fix most issues if you encounter different errors.

Successfully Change Windows 10 File Associations

Using this guide, you can easily change file associations for different file types on your Windows 10 PC and run them using your preferred third-party programs.

Although all three methods mentioned above will get your job done, the second method offers a more comprehensive approach to changing file associations than the other two methods. Additionally, since it presents an entire list of file types and their associated default applications, you can easily manage all file extensions in one place.

It’s important to note that file-type associations tend to reset back to their defaults upon software update, so you may have to review the entire process again. Alternatively, you can back up your file associations and restore them after updating your system to save the hassle.

FAQs about Changing Windows 10 File Associations