Windows 10: how do I change the default apps for a file type?

I know how to go to default apps and change default apps for a file type, but for example, I am trying to associate google sheets for .gsheets files or even excel for .gsheets files. Windows 10 has them defaulted to googlesyncdrive and only offers me that option or to go to microsoft store. Even in microsoft store, if I try to select excel, it wants to download it. I already have it! Help

:)

 

Windows10 Keeps Changing my Default Apps

Hi Carol,

There is a certain option in Settings where you can change the default apps for a specific file type. For example, your .psd file can be opened by a certain app as a default while the other file types can be opened by a different app. You can manually change
it by following these steps:

• Press Windows key + I.
• Select Apps, and then Default apps.
• Select Choose default apps by file type.
• From there, scroll down to the file type that you want to change the default app.

Feel free to contact us if you need assistance with Windows.

 

Windows 10 1803 default app change bug

When right clicking a file and going to "Open With", no matter what file it is, I can't change its default. The box is checked, and the app doesn't change.

This is also true of right clicking and going to "Properties". When I click change, the default doesn't change.

This is happening to me on 3 computers now. Steps to reproduce? I could probably do it by:

Installing Windows 8.1, and upgrading to 10 with the media creation tool.

This does not happen with a fresh install from a USB with Windows 10.

Don't tell me to go to "Settings" and change the defaults. The file type list is horrible, and some of my file types are not listed. The registry is not an option on multiple PCs as it is not just one file type. It is ALL file types. No matter what one I
try, it's always the same result.

Are there any suggestions? I know how to navigate computer, so please do not suggest that I need to go to Settings

> Apps > Default Apps. These options are far from optimized, and they don't have what I need. There isn't even an option to browse for an app to select defaults for when the app doesn't show up in the list.

A quick fix would be nice. Even a simple item in the registry? I could potentially have this problem on all 75 computers in this building as they all started at 8.1 before going to 10. I can't reinstall Windows on every machine. That's ridiculous.

 

app default setting by file type

Hi Richard,

We understand that you're having issues with the default file app association on your computer. To assist you with your concern, you may refer to the steps below on how to change the default setting of your application:

• In Search Windows textbox, search for choose a default app for each type of file and set .PDF and any other file extensions to point to your choice for default
  programs. Do not use Adobe Reader to set the association.
• Navigate to %systemroot%\system32 and locate the OEMDefaultAssociations.xml file. Make a backup of it just in case.
• Open the OEMDefaultAssociations.xml file and keep it open using
  Notepad.exe.
  
• Open PowerShell or CMD and run it as Administrator.
• Enter the following: Dism /Online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:C:\AppAssoc.xml
• Open C:\AppAssoc.xml with Notepad.exe
• Copy the entire contents of AppAssoc.xml and replace the entire content of OEMDefaultAssociations.xml.
• Save OEMDefaultAssociations.xml.
• Delete C:\AppAssoc.xml (optional).

After doing the steps, you may now change the default file app association for opening .pdf.

Do update us with the outcome and if you need further assistance.

Regards.