How does Windows know which app or plan to utilize to open up all the different kinds of files on your figurer? It comes downwards to file associations. Windows associates each file type with a programme capable of opening that kind of file, merely you have some option in the matter, as well!

Imagine, for case, y'all just installed Adobe Photoshop on your PC. From now on, you want Windows to use Photoshop to open .jpg files, only currently Windows always opens .jpg files with the default Photos app included in Windows 10.

Below we'll show you several methods of changing file associations in Windows 10 so that your files open with the application you prefer.

How to Change Windows 10 File Associations in File Explorer

One way to tell Windows which application should open up a particular kind of file is through the File Explorer. In the instance below, JPG files open in Microsoft Photos, and we will change the file association so that JPG files open in Adobe Photoshop.

  1. Open File Explorer. An easy style to practise that is to press Win+E.
  2. Navigate to a folder containing a file whose association you lot want to alter.
  1. Right-click the file and select Open with. (Note: If you don't see Open up with, hold down the Shift key and then right-click the file.)
  2. Even if you lot see the program yous want to associate with that file blazon in the list, select Choose another app. (If you only select the programme from the list displayed, the file will open in that app this time, but the default file association will remain unchanged.
  1. A popup volition appear asking y'all how y'all want to open this file. Select the application yous desire to associate with your file blazon and bank check the box side by side to Always use this app to open up [filetype].
  1. Note: If you lot don't encounter the app you want to acquaintance with this file type in the Other options list, scroll down and select Look for an app in the Microsoft Store. Alternative, if you already have a program installed that doesn't appear in the list, then select More apps and navigate to the awarding you desire.
  1. In one case you've selected the program you want to acquaintance with this file type, select OK. From now on, files of that type will automatically open in the app you selected.

Another Mode to Alter Windows 10 File Associations in the File Explorer

Windows File Explorer offers a second way to designate which programme should open files of a certain type. This technique works just also equally the method in a higher place. It'due south up to yous to pick which manner you want to practise it.

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to a folder containing a file whose association you want to alter.
  2. Select the file and make certain the Home card tab is active. On the toolbar ribbon, select Properties. (Alternatively, correct-click on the file and select Properties.)
  1. In the Properties panel, select the Alter push button.
  1. Continue from Pace 5 in Method A above.

Change File Associations via the Command Console

You tin also apply the Control Console to change file associations in Windows 10. Here's how.

  1. Open the Control Panel. An easy way to exercise this is by pressing Win + R, typing control and then selecting OK.
  1. Select Default Programs.
  1. Next, select Associate a file type or protocol with a program.
  1. In the Default apps window that displays, select Choose default apps by file blazon.
  1. Adjacent, find the file blazon in the list on the left under Name. In our example, we'll await for .jpg.
  2. Select the default program to the correct of the file blazon clan you want to change. The Choose an app panel will appear. Select the app you want to associate with the file type, and y'all're washed!

Changing File Associations in Windows Settings

Sometimes you might desire an application to open every kind of file it can. In that case, rather than associating file types with the application ane by one, you can tell Windows to employ that application to open whatsoever kind of file it can handle.

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

  1. Open Windows Settings by pressing Win+I.
  2. Select Apps.
  1. In the list on the left, select Default apps.
  1. At present you can choose the default apps for things like electronic mail, maps, music, photos, videos, or web browser. Let's change the default spider web browser from Google Chrome so that all web page file types are associated with Firefox instead. Under Web browser, select the default app that is listed. In this case, information technology's Google Chrome.
  1. Next, select the app y'all want from the list. We'll choose 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 x File Explorer

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

Configuring Windows File Explorer to display file extensions in file names is quick and like shooting fish in a barrel. Simply open the file explorer by pressing Win+Due east. Then select the View tab on the menu ribbon. Lastly, check the box adjacent to File proper name extensions.

Now you'll be able to see the file extension for whatsoever file in that folder.

Salve Yourself Some Fourth dimension

Past following one of the methods higher up, y'all'll save yourself some actress time and irritation. Taking a moment to modify your file associations and then your files open in the applications yous want is a gift yous can requite your time to come self!