Having issues with your default programs and want to learn how to change open with settings in Windows? You’ve come to the right place. The “Open with” feature allows you to choose a specific application to open a certain file type by default. While Windows tries to select the most appropriate programs automatically, sometimes you may want to override the defaults based on your personal preferences and needs. Fortunately, modifying open with settings is easy to do through the file properties or default programs control panel in Windows.
Why Change Open With Settings?
There are a few common reasons you may want to change the default open with program for a specific file type:
- You want to use an alternate program to open a certain file type
- Windows is opening a file in the wrong program
- You have installed a new program and want it to become the default
- You uninstalled a program but files are still trying to open with it
For example, you may want PDF files to open in Adobe Acrobat Reader rather than your internet browser. Or you installed a new image editing software and want all JPG files to now launch with the new program by default rather than an old one.
Changing the open with setting allows you to override the default and have files open up directly in the program you want.
How to Change Default Program Using File Properties
The easiest way to change the default open with program for a specific file type is through its properties window:
- Locate the file you want to change the default program for and right-click on it.
- Select Properties from the right-click menu.
- In the Properties window, click the Change button next to Open with.
- Select the program you want the file type to open with by default.
- Check the box for “Always use this app to open [.file extension] files”.
- Click OK to save the new default.
This will set the chosen program as the default for just that file type, overriding what Windows had set up initially. The next time you open a file of this type, it will automatically launch with the newly selected default application instead.
Setting Default by File Type
If you want all files of that extension to open with the new program by default, rather than just the individual file you changed, there is a simple extra step:
- After selecting the new program and checking “Always use this app”, click the Set as Default button instead of OK.
- This prompts Windows to change the default program for all files of this type, system-wide.
The next time any file with that file extension is opened, it will use the app you just selected rather than the previous default. This makes the change apply globally to any file of this type.
Opening a File With a Different Program
In addition to changing the default, you can also use the Open With menu to open an individual file with a one-time alternate program:
- Right-click the file and select Open With > Choose another app.
- Select the program to open the file with just this once.
The file will launch in the selected program, but the default app for the file type will remain unchanged. This is handy for opening a specific file in an alternate program without changing the global default.
Changing Defaults in Settings
The other way to change default programs for file types is through the Default Apps section of Windows Settings:
- Open Settings and click on Apps.
- Click Default Apps on the left side.
- Scroll down to File Explorer and click Manage Default Programs.
- Select the file extension and click the program to set as default.
This will again change the default app to open files for the chosen file type. The advantage of using this method in Settings is you can change the defaults for multiple file types at once instead of having to go in and update each file extension one by one.
Troubleshooting Open With
If you change the default program but files are still opening in the wrong application, here are some troubleshooting tips:
- Restart your computer. This refreshes the file associations.
- Clear the old default program as an option. Open its uninstaller and select Remove Settings/Preferences.
- Scan for malware. Bad software can hijack file associations.
- Use a file association fixer tool to reset all settings.
Following these steps often resolves any issues with files continuing to open in the previous default program after changing the open with setting.
FAQ About Changing Default Programs
Should I change defaults in File Properties or Settings?
Use File Properties to change the default for a specific file type one at a time. Use Default Apps Settings to change defaults for multiple file types together. Either method will update the open with associations system-wide.
Where do default file type associations come from?
Windows selects default programs to open specific file types based on file extension associations maintained in the Windows Registry. It chooses defaults it thinks are most appropriate.
Can I make everything open with one program?
It’s not recommended to have everything open in the same program by default as that prevents specialized programs for each file type from launching. But you can set the defaults all to the same app through Default Apps in Settings if desired.
What if there’s no Open With option?
Some system files and folders like Program Files won’t have an Open With menu. Open With only appears for regular documents and media files. Changing system file associations is not recommended.
Will changing defaults affect other users?
The Open With settings are changed at the system level, so any user account on the computer will have the file type defaults updated.
Can I undo changes if I want the original defaults back?
Yes, you can revert changes by going back into the Default Apps settings and selecting the original default program that was associated with each file type.
Conclusion
Learning how to modify your default “Open with” programs in Windows is a useful trick to customize your experience. Whether you want a file type to always open in a certain application, or launch in an alternative program just once, you can easily change these settings through file properties or the default apps control panel. In no time, you can have your system configured so files open in precisely the programs intended upon double-clicking them.
| File Type | Original Default Program | New Default Program |
|---|---|---|
| .docx | Microsoft Word | Google Docs |
| Microsoft Edge | Adobe Acrobat Reader | |
| .jpg | Windows Photos | Adobe Photoshop |