Windows – Remove file associations on Windows 8

file associationwindows 8

I have Chrome associated with .xlsx file on a Windows 8.1 machine.

In Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Associations it is not possible to remove an association only to change it to another program.

In Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Default Programs\Set Program Associations, .xlsx is not present in Chrome.

I removed all keys from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.xlsx.

Still Chrome remains associated with that extension in Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Associations, and Windows Explorer shows the Chrome icon with the .xlsx file.

Best Answer

Create a blank file with a random file extension. Let's say <filename>.blaw.

 1. Open Notepad
 2. Menu *File* → *Save As*
 3. Give a name with your extension.
 4. And save it on your desktop (you can also save it at any other
    location).

Now right click your file (*.xlsx in this case) and select Open with → Choose Default Program → scroll down and select Browse for an App on this PC.

Now browse to filename.blaw and select it.

When your *.xlsx file is associated with <filename>.blaw, all you need to do is to delete the <filename>.blaw file. Now it'll force any *.xlsx file to make a file association again, and you can choose application from which you want to open your file, or leave it as it is.

And this solution certainly works!

The same process also works for Windows 10.

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