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

Imagine, for example, yous just installed Adobe Photoshop on your PC. From at present on, you lot want Windows to employ Photoshop to open .jpg files, but currently Windows always opens .jpg files with the default Photos app included in Windows 10.

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

How to Change Windows 10 File Associations in File Explorer

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

  1. Open up File Explorer. An easy way to do that is to press Win+E.
  2. Navigate to a folder containing a file whose association you want to alter.
  1. Correct-click the file and select Open with. (Notation: If you don't meet Open up with, agree downward the Shift key and and so right-click the file.)
  2. Fifty-fifty if you see the program yous want to associate with that file type in the list, select Choose another app. (If you lot just select the plan from the list displayed, the file will open in that app this time, only the default file association will remain unchanged.
  1. A popup will appear asking you how you want to open this file. Select the application you want to associate with your file blazon and check the box next to Always use this app to open [filetype].
  1. Note: If you don't see the app yous want to acquaintance with this file blazon in the Other options list, ringlet down and select Await for an app in the Microsoft Shop. Culling, if you already have a program installed that doesn't appear in the list, and then select More apps and navigate to the application you want.
  1. In one case you've selected the programme you desire to associate with this file blazon, select OK. From at present on, files of that type volition automatically open in the app you selected.

Another Manner to Change Windows 10 File Associations in the File Explorer

Windows File Explorer offers a 2nd manner to designate which program should open files of a certain type. This technique works just also as the method above. It's upwards to you lot to selection which mode y'all want to do information technology.

  1. Open File Explorer and navigate to a folder containing a file whose association you want to change.
  2. Select the file and make sure the Home menu tab is active. On the toolbar ribbon, select Backdrop. (Alternatively, right-click on the file and select Properties.)
  1. In the Properties panel, select the Modify push.
  1. Go on from Pace 5 in Method A above.

Modify File Associations via the Control Panel

You can also use the Command Panel to change file associations in Windows 10. Here's how.

  1. Open the Control Panel. An easy way to do this is past pressing Win + R, typing control and then selecting OK.
  1. Select Default Programs.
  1. Adjacent, select Acquaintance a file blazon or protocol with a program.
  1. In the Default apps window that displays, select Choose default apps by file blazon.
  1. Adjacent, notice the file blazon in the list on the left under Name. In our example, we'll look for .jpg.
  2. Select the default program to the right of the file type clan y'all want to change. The Choose an app panel will appear. Select the app you want to associate 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 example, rather than associating file types with the application one by i, you can tell Windows to use that application to open whatever kind of file it tin can handle.

For instance, y'all might want your favorite web browser to open up spider web pages, no affair what file blazon they are. Here's how to do that.

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

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

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

In a previous department, we searched for file extensions in a listing. If you utilise that method, you lot'll need to know the file extension you want 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 next to File proper name extensions.

At present yous'll be able to run into the file extension for whatsoever file in that folder.

Save Yourself Some Fourth dimension

By post-obit i of the methods above, y'all'll save yourself some actress time and irritation. Taking a moment to alter your file associations so your files open up in the applications you want is a gift you can give your future self!