Manage Your Files, Folders and Libraries
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Changing File Associations and Protocols Windows 10 comes with its own default set of associations that open specific file types. A file association controls which apps or programs are set to open which types of files. If you’re not happy with the default associations and want to choose your own, it’s easy to do.
Default Programs and Protocols The ability to change the default apps and programs that Windows 10 uses goes a long way to helping you take full control of your PC and the system software.
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Click on the search bar on the left of the taskbar and type “default programs”. You can also navigate to this settings tool by opening the All Apps list, scrolling down to W and clicking Windows System > Default Programs. Either way, open the tool on screen.
A list of apps already associated with various functions will appear. Click on any of these to see alternative options. The options shown will vary depending on the apps you have installed at this time. If a function has no apps associated with it, you can click ‘Look for app in the Store’.
BDM’s Windows 10 Solutions
Below the description, you will see two options: Set this program as default and Choose defaults for this program. The amount of default file associations are also shown. Click ‘Set this program as default’ first.
Next, click on the ‘Choose default apps by file type’ option to see a list of all the file types that can be associated with your currently installed apps. These are the types of files which will automatically open in that app when clicked. Anywhere a + is shown, is without a default app.