How to Change What Program Opens a File Windows 10

Have you ever been frustrated when you try to open a file and it’s not in the program you want? Do you want to make sure a certain program always opens a certain file type? It’s easy to change the default program that opens a file in Windows 10. In this article, we’ll show you how to customize the settings so you can open any file in the program of your choice.

Changing Default Applications for File Types in Windows 10

To change what program opens a file in Windows 10, you first need to identify the type of file you want to open and then choose a program from the list of installed applications. In this guide, we’ll show you how to change the default application for a file type, as well as how to change the default application for a specific file.

To change the default application for a specific file, first identify the type of file you want to open. A file type is defined by its extension, which is the three or four characters at the end of its name. For example, a Microsoft Word document has the extension .docx. Once you’ve identified the type of file, you can then choose a program from the list of installed applications.

To change the default application for a file type, open the Settings app and go to Apps > Default apps. Under the “Choose default apps by file type” heading, you’ll see a list of all the file types that have default applications associated with them. To change the default application for a file type, click the drop-down menu next to it and choose the program you want to use.

Using the Open With Dialog

If you don’t want to change the default application for a file type, you can always use the Open With dialog. To do this, right-click the file you want to open and select Open With > Choose Another App. You’ll then be presented with a list of installed applications that you can use to open the file.

The Open With dialog is especially useful if you want to open a file with a specific program that differs from the default application associated with its file type. For example, if you want to open a .docx file with a different program than the one associated with .docx files, you can use the Open With dialog.

Using the Default Apps Page

You can also use the Default Apps page to change the default application for a file type. To do this, open the Settings app and go to Apps > Default apps. Under the “Choose default apps” heading, you’ll see a list of all the file types that have default applications associated with them. To change the default application for a file type, click the drop-down menu next to it and choose the program you want to use.

The Default Apps page is useful if you want to change the default application for a file type, rather than just a specific file. For example, if you want to change the default application for all .docx files, you can use the Default Apps page.

Using File Explorer

You can also use File Explorer to change the default application for a file or file type. To do this, open File Explorer and navigate to the file or file type you want to change. Right-click the file or file type and select Properties. On the General tab, click the Change button, then select the program you want to use.

The File Explorer method is useful if you want to change the default application for a specific file. For example, if you want to open a .docx file with a different program than the one associated with .docx files, you can use File Explorer.

Using the Set Default Programs Tool

You can also use the Set Default Programs tool to change the default application for a file type. To do this, open the Start menu and type “set default programs”. Select the Set Default Programs tool and you’ll be presented with a list of all the installed applications. Select the application you want to use and click the Set This Program As Default button.

The Set Default Programs tool is useful if you want to change the default application for a file type and don’t want to use the Settings app or File Explorer. For example, if you want to change the default application for all .docx files, you can use the Set Default Programs tool.

Using the Control Panel

Finally, you can use the Control Panel to change the default application for a file type. To do this, open the Control Panel and navigate to Default Programs > Set Associations. On the Set Associations page, you’ll see a list of all the file types that have default applications associated with them. To change the default application for a file type, select it from the list and click the Change Program button.

The Control Panel method is useful if you want to change the default application for a file type and don’t want to use the Settings app, File Explorer, or the Set Default Programs tool. For example, if you want to change the default application for all .docx files, you can use the Control Panel.

Top 6 Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to change what program opens a file in Windows 10?

The easiest way to change what program opens a file in Windows 10 is to right-click the file, go to ‘Open With’ and select the program you want from the list of programs. If the program you want to use isn’t listed, you can select ‘Choose another app’ to select the right program.

What happens if I don’t see the program I want to use to open the file?

If you don’t see the program you want to use to open the file, you can select ‘Choose another app’ from the ‘Open With’ menu. This will open a window where you can select the correct program from a list of installed programs on your computer. If the program you want to use isn’t listed, you can select ‘More apps’ to locate it in the Windows Store.

How can I make sure the program I select is always used to open the file type?

After you select the program you want to use to open the file, you can click the ‘Always use this app’ checkbox to make sure it is always used to open that file type. This will ensure that the same program is always used to open the file and will save you the hassle of having to manually select it each time.

What if I want to reset the program used to open a file type?

If you want to reset the program used to open a file type, you can go to the Settings app in Windows 10 and select ‘Apps’. From there, you can select ‘Default apps’ and select the file type you want to reset. You can then select the program you want to use to open the file type from the list of programs.

What if I can’t find the file type I want to reset?

If you can’t find the file type you want to reset in the list of default apps in the Settings app, you can try resetting it by right-clicking the file and selecting ‘Properties’. From there, you can select the ‘General’ tab and click the ‘Change’ button to select the program you want to use to open the file type.

What if the program I want to use to open the file type isn’t listed?

If the program you want to use to open the file type isn’t listed, you can try downloading it from the Windows Store. Once you’ve downloaded the program, you can then select it from the list of programs when you right-click the file and select ‘Open With’.

Windows 10 Change the Default Programs for Opening Files

Changing the program that opens a file on Windows 10 is a surprisingly simple task. With just a few clicks, you can choose the program that’s best suited for the type of file you have. By following the easy steps outlined in this article, you can make sure that your files are opened with the right program every time. So don’t be intimidated, take action and make sure that every file you open is opened in the program of your choice.