Windows – Editing the “Open with” menu in Windows 10

pdfwindows 10windows-explorerwindows-registry

I use PDF Split & Merge (PDF SAM) frequently, but don't want to set it as the default PDF handler.

When I right-click on a PDF and select Open with, these are the options I am given. To select PDF SAM I must click Choose another app and select PDF SAM there.

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I would like for PDF SAM to be directly in the Open with menu.

I have looked over these questions for help:

I have modified the registry to set PDF SAM as the 2nd option in the OpenWithList:

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But this does not appear to actually change anything.

I would be happy if Chrome, Edge, and Waterfox were simply not on that list of programs in the Open with menu, and I assume this would free up enough room for PDF SAM to graduate to the main list, but only Waterfox shows in the OpenWithList in the registry, and removing it does not appear to make any difference.

Update 1

Following the suggestions in the question linked in the comments (Manually Add Program to Open With in Windows 10) I tried DefaultProgramEditor and it failed utterly.

Then I opened the registry to HKCR.pdf\OpenWithProgids and removed the Waterfox entry from there, and this indeed removed Waterfox from the Open with list, but it did not add PDFSAM to that main list:

Registry:
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Open with menu:
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So, we've figured out how to remove unwanted entries from the primary list, but not how to add wanted entries to it.

I also found list similar question: Strange open with list (inconsistent with registry)

And checked to make sure that PDF SAM has both entries suggested by the answer there, and it does:
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Update 2

A little bit after upgrading Windows 10 to build 1809 I noted PDF SAM is now showing in the Open With menu.

I have not tested yet to confirm that Microsoft has resolved this issue or if something else broke loose. Once I've confirmed this though, I'll write up an answer.

Best Answer

For anyone that still has this problem, the solution would be going to

\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\"ProgramName.exe"\SupportedTypes

and add a new string containing the format you want to open e.g. ".mp4"

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