Default Programs - Set a Program's Default Associations

How to Set Default Associations for a Program in Windows 7​

   Information

A default program is the program that Windows 7 uses when you open a particular type of file extension. This will show you how to set a program as the default for selected or all file types and protocols it can open.

These Default Programs association settings are a per user setting and not applied to all users.

Here's How: 1. Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click on the Default Programs icon.

2. Click on the Set your default programs link. (See screenshot below)
3. In the left column, select (highlight) a listed program that you want to change it's default file associations for. (See screenshot below)
4. To Set the Program as the Default Program for All of it's Associations
NOTE: This will associate the selected program as the default used by Windows 7 to open all of the file types and protocols that it can open. A) Click on Set this program as default. (See screenshot below step 3A)

B) Go to step 6.
5. To Manually Choose Default Associations to be Associated with the Program
NOTE: This will associate the selected program as the default used by Windows 7 to open the selected file types and protocols by you from the list that the program can open. A) Click on Choose defaults for this program. (See screenshot below step 3A)

B) Check the file extensions you want this program to be associated to open by default. (See screenshots below)
NOTE: These are the default settings for each listed default program. You will only be able to uncheck the file extenstions that you just checked and were not already checked before doing step 5A.



















C) Click on the Save button to apply. (See screenshots above)
6. Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3A)

That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

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• How to Associate a File Type or Protocol Default Program in Window 7
• Restore Default Windows 7 File Extension Type Associations
• How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions in Windows 7
• How to Add "Show/Hide Known File Extensions" to Context Menu in Vista and Windows 7
• How to Change the Default Program a File Type Opens With in Windows 7
• How to Add or Remove "Always use selected program" in Open With
• How to Have "Always use selected program" Always Checked or Unchecked in "Open with"
• How to Change the Default Icon of a File Extension in Windows 7
• How to Create a Default Programs Shortcut in Windows 7
• How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• How to Create a "Set Program Access and Computer Defaults" Shortcut
• How to Enable or Disable the "Set Program Access and Computer Defaults" Page
• How to Remove a Listed Program in Default Programs for Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Restore or Remove "Windows Media Center" from Default Programs
• How to Restore or Remove "Internet Explorer" from Default Programs
• How to Restore or Remove "Windows Media Player" from Default Programs
• How to Change the Default Program of the "Edit" Context Menu in Windows

 

[beatrizribeiror]

My program is not in the list

if the program that I want as default is not in the list, what should I do?

 

[Brink]

Hello Beatriz, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You might see if you may be able to right click on the file that you want the program to open by default, and use Open With to select the program's exe file to do so instead.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[beatrizribeiror]

I had already tried this route, but the program I want to use as default is the windows media player classic, and when I right click and select the WMPC It Will not Be added to the program to open with. I put my question into google and got this site, I was doing all the steps, but when I got to step number 3, WMPC not appear on the list of programs that I can select as default. How do I add it? If you can not add any program to this list has some other way to solve my problem?

Thank you very much for trying to help me,
Beatriz

 

[Brink]

You shoule be able to click on the Browse button, then navigate to and select the exe file of WMPC instead.

Also, look here to see if you may be able to set WMPC as the default program within it's own options.

Set Media Player Classic as Default Player

 

[beatrizribeiror]

I got this link you sent, but did not work. When I clicked on "all> apply> ok" all "icons" is unchecked. I do not know what else to do, thank you for your attention anyway. Beatriz

 

[Brink]

Beatriz,

Right click on the WMPC shortcut and click on "Run as administrator" and try doing that again to see if it may work this time. Some programs may require to run elevated for this type of option to work properly.

 

[beatrizribeiror]

OMG, it worked!!
thank you very very very very very much!!
Beatriz

 

[Brink]

That's great news. You're most welcome Beatriz.

 

[redgrl]

Awesome Fix!

Thanks Shawn! I tried all the other fixes but yours was the only one that worked. Tried all the folder and system options but changing the default pgm is the fix that worked.

Thanks!!!!

 

[Brink]

Thanks Shawn! I tried all the other fixes but yours was the only one that worked. Tried all the folder and system options but changing the default pgm is the fix that worked.

Thanks!!!!

You're welcome Redgrl, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[seckin]

Thanks

 

[Brink]

You're welcome Seckin, and welcome to Seven Forums.

 

[Sit3UserX]

Thank you, thank you and very BIG thank you! Just reading steps 1 to 3, you helped me to fix a problem I was having to associate file types with XnView on Windows7 x64.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome Sit3UserX.

 

[Yukon Bob]

My Control Panel looks nothing like the one in the tutorial. Mine does not show "Control Panel All Items" nor does it show 'default programs". have gone thru all "file view, etc" items and find nothing about default items.

 

[Brink]

Hello Bob,

Did you open the Control Panel using icon views like in step 4 of OPTION ONE of the tutorial below?

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/262-control-panel-view-category-icons.html