How to associate a file with a plan in Windows

Updated: 12/30/2021 by Computer Promise

By default, Windows chooses a program to open up files. Any time a program changes a file association, you can re-acquaintance the file back to another programme of your pick. Y'all can also change the default file association in Windows to open all files of a specific type or file extension with the same program.

Select a link beneath for data on how to change the programs used to open files in Microsoft Windows.

Acquaintance i file with a specific plan

To alter the program associated with a specific file, follow the steps beneath.

  1. Open My Calculator or Explorer.
  1. Correct-click the file yous want to change the file association and click Properties.
  2. In the file Properties, click the Alter push button next to the "Opens with" option. Later clicking Change, you'll exist given a list of programs to open the file. Select the program yous want to use, click Utilize, and so OK. If the program you desire to use is not listed, click the Browse push button, find the program's executable (.exe) file on the reckoner, and click OK to select that program.

File Properties

Annotation

If the programme yous cull is not compatible with the file type, y'all run across garbage or get an error when opening the file. If this happens, effort changing the file to open with a unlike plan.

Change file association for all files of a specific type

To change the file association for all files of a specific blazon, select your version of Windows below and follow the steps.

  • Windows eleven
  • Windows 10
  • Windows Vista, 7, and viii
  • Windows 2000 and XP
  • Windows 95, 98, and ME

Windows 11

  1. Open up the Control Console.
  2. In the Control Panel, click the Default Programs option.
  3. Click the Acquaintance a file blazon or protocol with a plan option.
  4. In the Default apps window, ringlet to the bottom and select Choose defaults by file blazon.
  5. Find the file type that interests you.
  6. Click the current default program or Cull a default option below the file type.

Change default program by file type in Windows 11

  1. In the How do you want to open up pop-upwardly window, select the program you want to associate to that file type.

Select default program by file type in Windows 11

Windows x

  1. Open the Control Console.
  2. In Control Console, search for Default Programs and click the icon.
  3. Click the Associate a file type or protocol with a programme option.
  4. In the Default apps window, scroll to the lesser and click the Choose default apps past file blazon option.
  5. Nether the Proper noun column, locate the file extension y'all want to change.
  6. Nether the Default app column, click the name of the currently selected default program.
  7. In the Choose an app pop-upward window, select the program yous want to associate to that file type.

Windows Vista, 7, and 8

  1. Open the Control Panel.
  2. In Control Panel, search for Default Programs and click the icon.
  3. Click the Associate a file type or protocol with a program option.

Change the actions of a file type

  • Locate the file extension you want to alter and highlight information technology.
  • Click the Change programme button.
  • Select the program you lot desire to associate, open the file extension, and click OK. If the program yous want to select is non listed, click the Browse push, find the program's executable (.exe) file on the computer, and click OK to select that plan.

Windows 2000 and XP

  1. Open My Computer or Explorer.
  2. Click the Tools in the file menu and then click Binder Options.
  3. Click the File types tab.

Adding a new file type

  • Click the New push.
  • Blazon the name of the file extension.
  • Click OK.

Modify the actions of a file type

  • Locate the file extension you lot want to change and highlight it.
  • Click the Advanced button.
  • If yous want to modify a previous action, highlight it in the Actions list and edit it. Otherwise, click New and create a new action.

Removing a file type

  • Locate the file extension you want to remove and highlight it.
  • Click the Delete button.

Windows 95, 98, and ME

  1. Open My Computer or Explorer.
  2. Click the View in the file carte and Binder Options.
  3. Click the File types tab.

Adding a new file blazon

  • Click the New type button.
  • Type the associated extension and the clarification and deportment of the file.

Modifying the actions of a file type

  • Locate the file extension you desire to modify and highlight it.
  • Click the Edit button.
  • If you want to alter a previous action, highlight it in the Actions list and edit it. Otherwise, click New and create a new action.

Removing a file blazon

  • Locate the file extension you desire to remove and highlight it.
  • Click the Remove push.