How to Change File Association in Windows

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This guide is valid for Windows XP, Windows Vista, and Windows 7. Windows holds a default program that should be used to open each type of file on your computer. Many times, installing a new program (such as iTunes) that handles certain file types will automatically change what file types it will open by default and often this is configurable after installation as well. However, you can manually change the program Windows uses with the following steps.

Click on Start >> My Computer, and navigate to a file of the type you'd like to change.
Right click on the file, and hover over the "Open With..." option. Click on the "Choose Program..." option at the bottom of the dropdown.
Choose the program from the list you'd like to open the file by default. If it is not listed in the window, click the "Browse" button and find the program on your machine.
Check the "Always use the selected program to open this kind of file" option, and press OK.

And that's it! From now on, the file type you chose will be opened with the program of your choice. If you'd like an easy way to change a lot of file types at once, try opening the program you want to use to open the file, and finding an option within that program.

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Last Updated on Monday, 28 June 2010 21:25

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