What are file associations in Windows 10?

File associations in Windows 10 are the links between a file type and the program used to open it. For example, when you double-click on a .txt file, Windows 10 knows to open it with Notepad. File associations are managed through the Settings app, where you can set default programs for different file types.

How can a user accidentally change file associations in Windows 10?

A user can accidentally change file associations in Windows 10 by right-clicking on a file, selecting Open with, and then choosing a different program than the one that is currently associated with the file type. The user can also change file associations by going to Settings > Apps > Default apps and changing the default program associated with a file type.

What happens when a file association is changed or lost in Windows 10?

When a file association is changed or lost in Windows 10, the file can no longer be opened by the program it was associated with. Instead, Windows will prompt the user to select a program to open the file with. If no program is selected, the file cannot be opened. Additionally, Windows may not recognize the file type and may not be able to open it at all.

What is the difference between a file extension and a file type?

A file extension is the three or four letter code at the end of a file name, such as .docx or .jpg. It is used to indicate the type of file that it is. A file type is the general category of a file, such as document, image, audio, video, etc.

How can a user restore default file associations in Windows 10?

Open the Settings app. Go to Apps > Default apps. Scroll down to the “Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults” section. Click the “Reset” button. Confirm the action by clicking the “Reset” button in the confirmation dialog.

Fix Broken File Type Associations in Windows 10

Author: Vladimir Artiukh
Editor: Oleg Afonin
Updated: 8.05.2024 9:39

Learn how to repair broken file type associations in Windows 10 with this comprehensive guide. Whether you’re unable to open files with the correct programs or facing errors when trying to open certain file types, this tutorial covers everything you need to know. Dive deep into step-by-step instructions and essential tips for restoring file associations and ensuring seamless file handling in Windows 10.

Fix Broken File Type Associations in Windows 10

Contents

To Recover File Associations in Windows 10

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How to Recover Desktop Shortcuts and Set Default File Associations in Windows 10 🛠️💻📀

File Associations For Ordinary Files

Use the menu item «Open with». Right-click on the file, the association for which needs to be changed. From the list of suggested programs, select the application that suits your needs or look for another one.
Launch Control Panel / Default programs / Set associations. To see which program opens this file type by default, click on the corresponding file extension. To change the default program, click on «Change program».
Launch Settings / System / Default applications. At the bottom of the window that opens, select Choose default apps by file type.

Associations of Shortcuts, Folders and Executable Files

The methods described above are good when you deal with ordinary files (pictures, documents, audio files or videos etc). If folder, shortcut or exe.file associations are disrupted in Windows 10, you can correct such errors with the help of Registry Editor.

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How to Recover Windows 10 Registry From a Backup Copy ♻️📝💻

Advanced users can do it manually. However, to save you the trouble of entering manually the corresponding values into the registry, you can also use ready-made .reg files which are meant to enter data into Windows registry.

To correct the EXE file associations;
To correct the LNK file associations;

Download such files and run them, or right-click on the required file and choose “Merge”.

Agree to the security warning by clicking “Run”.

Confirm making changes to the registry by clicking on “Yes” in the next window.

After that close the registry editor and restart the computer. As a result, associations for .exe and .lnk files should start working just as they did before.

If you have activated automatic creation of system restore points before, then you could correct the error of file associations much quicker by using these restore points.

Have you managed to recover your files associations? Leave your feedback and ask questions in your comments.