Windows 10: How to change default app to open certain file types.

It's not as simple as it seems
Although it's easy as pie to change default apps by type file, but how to do it if I want to use app that's not on the default Window list?
Like in this example,



File is opened by IE but I have installed in my system programme called Notepad++ and I want it to open .xml files whenever i double click on them. But Notepad++ is not on the Windows list



So how to set this up to open .xml files with Notepad++?

:)

 

How to change default app for file type

'Open With > Choose another app' has three step, in the first it only offers apps registered for that file type. If you click 'More apps' it lists all registered apps regardless of suitability. Both these steps have the tick-box for 'Always use...' in my 18363.752. The third step, if needed, is 'Look for another app on this PC'. The 'Always use...' must be ticked before taking this step if you want the change to stick. However, WMP appears at the second step.

For a quick look at a JPG almost anything (including WMP) is more practical than Photos which on my system takes more than ten seconds just to open a photo. The OP is probably not aware that the Windows Photo Viewer is still available in W10, but hidden away. That's my default viewer for JPG.


Restore Windows Photo Viewer in Windows 10

And, once enabled, is available in Settings > Apps > Default apps.

 

How to change default app for file type

@Bree - yes, I'm quite aware of this thanks, but as you will see it's missing. I recall reading that clicking the dialogue at a certain point in blank space made it appear, and trying that once successfully, but doesn't seem to help now. Plenty of other similar reports of this option being missing.





'Fix' described here: (essentially unassociate the extension)
Windows 10 "Always use this app" checkbox missing - Super User

 

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.