Open With - Change Default Program

How to Change the Default Program a File Type Opens With 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 change a file type to open with a different default program for just this one time or always using the context menu in Windows 7.

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

Here's How:
1. Right click on the file type (ex: .txt file) that you want to change the default program for, then click on Open with. (see screenshot below)

   Note

If you do not have Open with in the context menu, then this means this file does not have a program associated to open it with.

• Instead, click on Open.

• Select (dot) Select a program from a list of installed programs, and click on OK.
• Go to step 3.

2. To Select a Program that is Already Listed in Context Menu
NOTE: This option will only open the file type with this program for just this one time and not everytime by default.
A) After you have expanded Open with, select a listed program (ex: Notepad or Wordpad) that you want to open the file with for just this one time. (see screenshot below)

B) Go to step 4.
3. To Select a Program that is Not Listed in Context Menu
NOTE: This option will allow you to be able to select to have the file type to always open with the selected program by default if you like.
A) After you have expanded Open with, select Choose default program. (see screenshot below step 1)

B) Under Other Programs, click on the drop down arrow to the far right to exapnd it and see more programs to select from. (See screenshot below)

C) Select the program that you want to open the file with. (See screenshot above)
NOTE: If the program you wanted to select is still not listed, then click on the Browse button and navigate to the program's exe file. Select it, and click on the Open button to add it to be able to select it.


D) To Always Open this File Type with the Selected Program by Default

• Check the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file box. (See screenshot below step 3B)
• Go to step 3F.

E) To Only Open this File Type with the Selected Program for Just this One Time

• Uncheck the Always use the selected program to open this kind of file box. (See screenshot below step 3B)

F) Click on OK. (See screenshot below step 3B)
4. The file will now be opened by the selected program.
That's it,
Shawn

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Add "Open with" to Context Menu of URL Files in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Add "Open with" to Context Menu of BAT Files in Windows 7 and Vista
• How to Associate a File Type or Protocol Default Program in Window 7
• How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Restore Default Windows 7 File Extension Type Associations
• How to Set Default Associations for a Program in Windows 7
• How to Hide or Show Known File Type Extensions 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 Remove or Restore the Open With Context Menu Item in Windows
• 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 Add or Remove "Open with Notepad" from the Context Menu of Files
• How to Clean Up and Remove Programs from the "Open with" Context Menu
• How to Add a Program to "Open with" in Windows 7
• 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 Fix "Open with" Opening with Notepad or Error Message

 

[Brink]

Thanks for the offer, I truly appreciate it. I have two copies installed, for some reason. How about either this path

c:\lpex\bin\evfwlx40.exe or c:\utilities\lpex\BIN\evfwlx40.exe

I wonder how many others will read this thread and use your response to fix a problem they too have ?

Ok. Here are two .reg files below. One to add the context menu, and the other to remove if needed.

I used: c:\utilities\lpex\BIN\evfwlx40.exe

I hope it'll do the trick for you.

View attachment Add_Open_with_Lpex.reg

View attachment Remove_Open_with_Lpex.reg

 

[farmerbb]

Thanks for the offer, I truly appreciate it. I have two copies installed, for some reason. How about either this path

c:\lpex\bin\evfwlx40.exe or c:\utilities\lpex\BIN\evfwlx40.exe

I wonder how many others will read this thread and use your response to fix a problem they too have ?

 

[farmerbb]

Uhhh.....ok. I was hoping to see the internals of your "program", so I might better understand how it works. When I clicked on it, it just "ran". and that was it. Then I realised I was in a position of absolute trust in your assistance. So far, so good, I rebooted and yes indeed, the right click on one of the files shows not only Open with Notepad, but also Open with Lpex. What I am still missing, if you would be so kind, is a way to associate certain file types with Lpex. Can you describe a way to have Lpex appear in the Set Associations menu ? No matter WHAT I do I cannot get Win7 to retain my choice long enough for it to appear. Thanks for what you have done so far.

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

This is the contents of the add .reg file below. The remove .reg file just deletes it.

Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00
 
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\*\shell\Open with Lpex\command]
@="C:\\utilities\\lpex\\BIN\\evfwlx40.exe %1"

Did you need a context menu for both .exe files?

I'm afraid that it may not be possible to add Lpex to Default Programs since it's so old, and doesn't appear to be fully compatible with Windows 7.

When you right click on the file, and click on the added "Open with Lpex", it should open that file in Lpex for you if Lpex supports opening that file type. This is just a workaround since Lpex isn't being added to the default "Open with" context menu.

 

[farmerbb]

Yes, thanks very much, it does allow me to select it if I right click on the file. It is just a bit more work to do that, as opposed to a simple double click and have the file association do the work. Oh well, if that is the best I can get, so be it. I was thinking there might be some file someplace in Win7 that retained all the file associations, that I could somehow edit to add Lpex. I appreciate the help.

 

[Nyxflame]

Reverse

I'm just curious how would you do this in reverse? to make it show the white paper instead of something you "open with" ??

 

[Brink]

I'm just curious how would you do this in reverse? to make it show the white paper instead of something you "open with" ??

Hello Nyxflame, and welcome to Seven Forums.

You would need to delete the registry entries for the set file association.

:ar: File Extension Type - Unassociate - Windows 7 Help Forums

What file extension did you want to unassociate?

I'll be happy to post back with a .reg file that will do it for you.