How does Windows know which app or program to use to open up all the different kinds of files on your computer? It comes down to file associations. Windows associates each file type with a programme capable of opening that kind of file, just you have some choice in the matter, also!

Imagine, for example, you just installed Adobe Photoshop on your PC. From at present on, you want Windows to utilise Photoshop to open .jpg files, just currently Windows always opens .jpg files with the default Photos app included in Windows ten.

Beneath we'll show yous several methods of changing file associations in Windows ten then that your files open with the awarding you prefer.

How to Change Windows 10 File Associations in File Explorer

One way to tell Windows which awarding should open a particular kind of file is through the File Explorer. In the example beneath, JPG files open in Microsoft Photos, and we volition change the file association so that JPG files open in Adobe Photoshop.

  1. Open File Explorer. An like shooting fish in a barrel way to do that is to press Win+E.
  2. Navigate to a folder containing a file whose association you want to change.
  1. Correct-click the file and select Open with. (Note: If you don't see Open with, hold down the Shift key and then right-click the file.)
  2. Even if you see the program you want to acquaintance with that file blazon in the list, select Choose another app. (If you merely select the program from the list displayed, the file will open in that app this fourth dimension, but the default file clan will remain unchanged.
  1. A popup will appear asking you how you want to open up this file. Select the application you want to associate with your file type and check the box adjacent to Ever apply this app to open up [filetype].
  1. Note: If y'all don't come across the app you want to associate with this file type in the Other options list, scroll downward and select Wait for an app in the Microsoft Store. Alternative, if yous already accept a program installed that doesn't announced in the listing, then select More than apps and navigate to the application you want.
  1. Once you've selected the program you want to acquaintance with this file blazon, select OK. From at present on, files of that blazon volition automatically open in the app you selected.

Another Style to Change Windows x File Associations in the File Explorer

Windows File Explorer offers a 2nd manner to designate which programme should open files of a certain type. This technique works simply as well as the method above. Information technology's up to you to option which way yous want to do it.

  1. Open up File Explorer and navigate to a binder containing a file whose clan you want to change.
  2. Select the file and make sure the Home menu tab is active. On the toolbar ribbon, select Properties. (Alternatively, right-click on the file and select Properties.)
  1. In the Properties panel, select the Modify button.
  1. Go on from Stride v in Method A above.

Change File Associations via the Control Panel

You lot tin can likewise use the Control Panel to change file associations in Windows 10. Here'southward how.

  1. Open up the Control Console. An piece of cake way to do this is by pressing Win + R, typing command then selecting OK.
  1. Select Default Programs.
  1. Next, select Acquaintance a file blazon or protocol with a program.
  1. In the Default apps window that displays, select Choose default apps by file type.
  1. Side by side, observe the file type in the list on the left under Name. In our instance, we'll await for .jpg.
  2. Select the default program to the right of the file type clan you want to change. The Choose an app panel volition announced. Select the app y'all want to acquaintance with the file type, and you're done!

Changing File Associations in Windows Settings

Sometimes you might want an application to open every kind of file it tin can. In that instance, rather than associating file types with the awarding ane by i, you can tell Windows to employ that application to open up any kind of file information technology tin can handle.

For instance, you might want your favorite web browser to open up web pages, no matter what file type they are. Here's how to exercise that.

  1. Open Windows Settings by pressing Win+I.
  2. Select Apps.
  1. In the list on the left, select Default apps.
  1. Now you tin choose the default apps for things like email, maps, music, photos, videos, or web browser. Allow'south change the default spider web browser from Google Chrome so that all spider web page file types are associated with Firefox instead. Under Web browser, select the default app that is listed. In this example, it'southward Google Chrome.
  1. Next, select the app you desire from the list. We'll cull Firefox.

That's it! Now Firefox has an association with all the file types it can handle.

Bonus: How to View File Extensions in Windows 10 File Explorer

In a previous section, we searched for file extensions in a list. If you employ that method, you lot'll need to know the file extension you desire to associate with a particular app.

Configuring Windows File Explorer to display file extensions in file names is quick and easy. But open the file explorer by pressing Win+East. Then select the View tab on the carte ribbon. Lastly, check the box side by side to File name extensions.

At present yous'll exist able to run across the file extension for whatever file in that binder.

Relieve Yourself Some Time

By post-obit one of the methods above, you'll save yourself some extra time and irritation. Taking a moment to change your file associations and so your files open up in the applications you want is a souvenir you tin can give your future cocky!