Windows 10: How to assign Outlook as default handler for .ics files?

This Windows 10 is getting crappier and crappier! *Mad

Apparently due to some recent Windows 10 update the default application to handle .ics (calendar) files is suddenly set to the Windows 10 Calendar app. Since I never use that crappy app I wanted to assign this back to Outlook 2016, which I am using as my day-to-day PIM. But when I try to assign the default for this file type back to Outlook the default application dialog only displays the options "Calendar" and "Search the store for an application". There used to be a link "choose another application" here, that would allow to assign the file type to any locally installed application, but that link is gone! :-O
So, how to I re-assign this .ics file type back to Outlook 2016???

:)

 

Windows 10 Mail App -- Cannot delete Outlook/365 Exchange account

The calendar app started hijacking appointments from web pages and anything with the .ics suffix. I tried to remove the application following the directions posted, nothing worked. I tried to uninstall it from the applications list, but the uninstall button
is not active.

Then I looked at the default application assignment list under settings, and changed the .ics assignment to Outlook. That fixed my problem very easily. The application is still there, but it is not hijacking my calendar entries any more.

Microsoft caused me to lose hours of time over this "improvement". I hope this saves others time and effort.

 

Video Preview in File Explorer Not Working-Windows 10

And you've selected all those files using Preview Handler Editor and assigned them to WinMediaPreview handler?

If so, I don't know what else to tell you. This has worked on several machines and wasn't that difficult to reproduce.

Another thing to try: if Windows Media Player is your default player for media, mp3s, wmas, etc -- then try selecting another program as the default. If you don't have another program, download something free like MPC Classic or VLC.

Sometimes, whatever is the default player can have an effect on how the preview handler behaves.

 

How do you assign an association? Should be the same as ever... please advise specifically if not:

Choose Default Apps in Windows 10 Windows 10 Apps Features Tutorials

 

No - that's my point. The option "Look for another app on this PC" is missing!
I can only choose that dreaded Calendar app or "Look for an app in the store", neither of which fits my bill.

 

Have you tried the other methods in that tutorial, and could you post a screenshot of what you're seeing please?
Which ones have you tried?

Which Win 10 build are you using?
(Windows key + R, winver)
Thanks.

 

OK - I have meanwhile uninstalled that Calendar app. Now the entry in the file type list reads "Choose a default" but when I click that I now ONLY have "Look for an app in the store". This is such a stupid system!
Why was this file type ever re-assigned in the first place? This worked perfectly? Why does MS try to shove these damned Metro apps down our throat??? *Banghead

 

Example, from Control Panel, Default Programs, using the Anniversary build.


Please post your equivalent and advise build. Thanks.

 

I am running Window 10 Pro v1703 (Build 15063.447) with Office Professional Plus 2016.
Until a couple of weeks ago downloading a .ics file from a webpage worked perfectly - it opened outlook and entered the calendar entry into the calendar and I only had to confirm and save it.

Since a week or so, doing the same suddenly opened this Calendar app. After I now uninstalled Calendar I now get:















stuck...


These are the two approaches I tried to fix this:

1st approach:



stuck again.


2nd approach:








same as above -stuck again...

 

[SOLVED] File type .ics won't open in Outlook 2016 - Spiceworks

- see the last post perhaps.

Another (easier) possibility might be to try this for Outlook (I don't have it installed): "Set this program as default"

 

I have passed by that option as well, but unfortunately Outlook s not listed in this view. :-(

What finally did the trick was that I hammered this association into the registry.
The key "Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.ics" had the value "ics_auto_file" and so I changed the value of key "Computer\HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\ics_auto_file\shell\open\command" to read:
Code: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft Office\root\Office16\Outlook.exe" /ical "%1"[/quote] The /cal option is a flag to tell Outlook to open the argument as an ics or ical file.

Now things are back to normal, but in a decent OS such registry hacks definitely should not be necessary!

 

Glad you solved it. Not sure whether blaming the OS or the implementation of applications is appropriate here.. Clearly the issue with Outlook has been previously experienced (first link in my last).

 

My experience with these repair options is rather mixed. They often change/revert many other settings, too, and are thus more of a hassle than a help. But, yes, maybe your approach might have helped as well...