Windows – How to change APPLICATION associations in Windows 10

default settingsfile associationwindows 10

Windows 10 installation broke some of my system associations. When I run some of broken apps, they often show a message, that they are not default anymore, proposing to make them default again.

However, if I choose to restore "defaultness", I get special Windows 10 message

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If I follow its instructions, I get into stupid GUI, allowing me to change something, but without any ability to decide, what to change.

For example, the list of file extension associations contain no search feature, so I am unable to find which association I wish (program wish) to change.

How to overcome? Is it possible to let programs to restore associations in old way?

UPDATE

Note that the message appears when you run SOME APPLICATION. You don't know any file extensions or class names, associated with it. You know just application name, nothing more.

So the task is not to change FILE associations, but APPLICATION associations.

Best Answer

  1. Setting > System > Default apps
  2. Scroll to the bottom and choose "Set defaults by app"
  3. Find the app that gave you the message
    • "Set this program as default" associates the app with everything it can open
    • "Choose defaults for this program" lets you pick and choose file extensions
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