Windows displays a selection menu that resembles the one from the Settings application but lists an option at the very bottom to 'look for another app on this PC'. Note: If you get 'Windows can't open this type of file', select 'try an app on this PC' first.

To change the association of an extension or protocol double-click on its line in the listing.

A media player can be associated with dozens of file types for instance. This can take quite some time depending on the program. There is no easy way to do this, which means that you have to locate all file extensions or protocols that you want to map to a program manually in the listing. Each extension or protocol is listed with its file extension or protocol, a description, and the current program associated with it. This loads all known file types and protocols in a long list. Select 'Associate a file type or protocol with a program' on the screen that opens. Select 'Control Panel Home', and on the next screen 'Default Programs'. If you don't have a Pause-key, tap on Windows, type Control Panel and hit enter. Use Windows-Pause to open the Control Panel.

TypeÂ control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageFileAssoc to open the 'associate a file type or protocol with a program' Control Panel window.

TypeÂ control /name Microsoft.DefaultPrograms /page pageDefaultProgram to open the 'Set your default programs' Control Panel window.

Tap on the Windows-key, type cmd.exe and select the result to open the Command Prompt.

Note that it is likely that Microsoft will remove these eventually: You may open the classic management screens in the following way. There is no option to set a program not suggested by Windows as the default handler for a specific protocol or file type. The Settings application, however, lists installed programs or Windows Store apps only. Update: Microsoft changed the Control Panel options in the Windows 10 Fall Creators Update so that they redirect to the Settings application instead. The classic Control Panel, for as long as it is still part of Windows, offers a solution. Information below is valid for Windows 10 version 1709 or earlier To change the association simply select it and press F4 to open the change prompt to select a different program. Check out our review of FileTypesMan here for additional information.įileTypesMan lists all known file types in the interface on load and its associations. We suggest you use Nirsoft's free FileTypesMan program to regain full control over the functionality. It still does not feature a 'browse' option to pick a program manually from the system. Problem is: the company did not improve the Settings application in this regard.

How to change default program setting