How to fix 'Open with' on file context menu.

I have a few file extensions where the 'Open with' option is not working. When I right click on these extensions I get an 'Open with' option with an arrow that just produces another 'Open with' instead of a list of other programs that can open the particular file extension.

Some example extensions are .txt .prn .jpg. Other extensions work just fine such as .ini files. Any idea how I can get back the list of alternate programs to open my extensions that aren't working correctly?

Didn't work. I fired up Windows 10 under VMWare and a .txt file shows notepad and wordpad in the 'Open with' context menu. I compared the two Registries and what I saw is exactly the same between the two. Of course I could be missing where the 'Open with' programs are stored. Any other ideas?

Brink said:

Selecting to open a file with an app will also add the app to the "Open with" list.

Only if things are working correctly. Here's a few things I notice:

1. When I go into 'Default Programs' and change .txt files to use another program I do get a list of other programs that I can use to open the .txt file. This list is what should appear on the 'Open with' context menu in File Manager.

2. The extensions with the 'Open with' problem also don't have 'Open' on the context menu. It should be the first entry on the list. I can still click on the file and it will open with he default program.

Got to be something in the Registry. I thought I would find under .txt in the Registry an Openwith List with wordpad and notepad. But there isn't any even on my VM Windows where 'Open with' works fine.

I fixed the problem. I use PDF-XChange Editor which adds stuff to the context menu. I uninstalled it and 'Open with' now workss fine.