When you open files that have a particular file extension, Windows will look at its configuration to determine what the default program should be in order to work with these files. The default program ...

When you double-click on a file in Windows 8, Windows will automatically open that file using a program that has been associated with that file's extension. There may come a time, though, that you ...

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 ...

Often when you install a new application, it asks you to make it the default program for certain file types. If you're too quick with the "Enter" key during installation, you might inadvertently grant ...

You have hundreds of different types of files on your PC, and probably multiple programs that can open each one. Windows makes it easy for you to open up these files by setting up default programs for ...

A reader would like to know how to change the default program his computer uses to open .jpg files when he double-clicks on a photo file. Most computers will use their operating system's default ...

However, if you are using Windows 10, do the following: When you click open a file, it will open the file with your OS default app that is associated with it. It could be a web link, video file, and ...

If you cannot change the default app by File Type in Windows 11/10 then this post is sure to help you resolve the issue. Windows 11/10 provides built-in options to change the default app(s) to open ...

David Nield is a technology journalist from Manchester in the U.K. who has been writing about gadgets and apps for more than 20 years. He has a bachelor's degree in English Literature from Durham ...

Windows 11 (and Windows 10, which reached end of support in October 2025) lets you assign default apps for file types, protocols, and links. But a persistent and frustrating bug causes these settings ...

João has been covering the tech world for over 7 years, with a heavy focus on laptops and the Windows ecosystem. I also love all things tech and videogames, especially Nintendo, which he's always ...

What steps do I need to take to change the default action on Windows XP and Windows 7 when someone tries to open a CHM file? I want the file extension to be associated with notepad.exe for ALL users.