Remove File Type Associations in Windows 7

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Each file in Windows, has an extension as part of its filename, such as.txt,.doc, etc. These extensions are used to identify the default program with which to open this file when you double-click on the file.

You can set orchange these file type associationsin Windows 7. In Windows XP, this capability was available inFolder Options. However, it was removed from that location in Windows 7. It is now available asSet Default Programsin theDefault Programstool available in theControl Panelin Windows 7.

You can also right-click on the file whose association you want to change and selectPropertiesfrom the popup menu. Then, click theChangebutton on theGeneraltab.

On theOpen withdialog box, you can choose a program from the lists of recommended programs or other programs. You can also select a custom program using theBrowsebutton.

NOTE:By default, the program you choose on this dialog box will always be used to open other files of the same type as the selected file. TheAlways use the selected program to open this kind of filecannot be unchecked.

If you accidentally associate a file type with a specific program and you want to remove that association and return to using the default, global association for that file type, theSet Default Programstool does not provide an easy, graphical method for doing this. We found a free tool, calledUnassociate File Types, that allows you to easily remove a file type association in Windows 7.

NOTE:Unassociate File Typesrequires administrative privileges to work correctly.

DownloadUnassociate File Typesfrom

http://www.winhelponline.com/blog/unassociate-file-types-windows-7-vista/

Unassociate Files Typesalso works in Windows Vista. We display examples from Windows 7 in this post.

The utility does not require installation. Simply unzip the file you downloaded and double-click on theUnassoc.exefile to run the utility.

ClickYeson theUser Account Controldialog box that displays.

On theUnassociate File Typesmain window, select the desired file extension from theFile typeslist. To remove the user-specific, custom association, for the chosen file type, click theRemove file association (User)button. This changes the default program used to open the file when you double-click on a file of that type.

NOTE:TheRemove file association (User)button is not available until you select a file extension from theFile typeslist.

Once you click theRemove file association (User)button, a dialog box displays telling you that the custom file association has been removed from the registry. Once you remove a file type association theUnassociate File Typestool, Windows will use the default, global file association settings for that file type.

To close theUnassociate File Typestool, click theXbutton in the upper, right corner of the dialog box.

You can use theDelete file typebutton to remove a file type completely from the registry. Be careful when choosing to use this option, because it removes both the user-specific and the global associations for the chosen file type. Try not to use this option for common file types, such as.txtand.doc, and use it sparingly in general.

If you have added or changed file associations using the Windows tools while theUnassociate File Typestool has been open, click theRefresh listbutton to refresh the list of availableFiles types. Enjoy!

Founder of Help Desk Geek and managing editor. He began blogging in 2007 and quit his job in 2010 to blog full-time. He has over 15 years of industry experience in IT and holds several technical certifications.Read Aseem’s Full Bio

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Remove File Type Associations in Windows 7#

Remove File Type Associations in Windows 7