Description of type: Text (any description, you can type in).Open Explorer - View - Folder Options.HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.doc uses Word.Document.8 so if you wanted this as your default editor you would change HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT.(Default) to Word.Document.8.Īny method which avoids the need to edit the registry is as follows: To check what an existing application used look at its entry under HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT, e.g. If you now double click on a file with no extension it will open with the application selected. NOTEPAD for the notepad.exe application NOTEPAD Change to the HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT used to open, e.g.

Enter a name of '.' and press Enter (don't type the quotes).Start the registry editor (regedit.exe).If you double click on one and select an application and check the box to always use that application it is ignored and every time you select a file you have to choose the application. You can then click on the default app for a particular extension to change it to a different program.Normal files with an extension can have a program associated however this is not the case with files that don't have an extension. This will open a screen that lists all of the configured extensions on the computer and the program associated with them. Windows allows you to change file associations by going into Settings > Apps > Default Apps and selecting at the bottom the option titled ' Choose default apps by file type'. Sometimes, though, you would rather a different program become associated with a file extension as you prefer that program over another one. This allows a user to double-click on a file and have the proper program launch and open the file. When a program is installed in Windows, if configures itself as the default handler for the types of files it knows how to open. For example, Word will associate itself with. Microsoft is making it easier to change your default file associations by adding a new search feature that lets you quickly find the extension you wish to modify.

Set default programs for opening files