cannot change file association

trogne · 16 Oct 2018

Suddenly, I cannot change my file association to the program I want.

For example, I want to change ".txt" to use "notepad2.exe", not the default "notepad". Recently I was able to do that.

If I right-click, properties, and choose my "notepad2", the change won't take effect. It will still stay the default notepad.

And using windows 10 "choose default applications by file type", I can only choose app from App store. I do not want that. I want to use my simple "notepad2.exe".

mrgeek · 16 Oct 2018

"If I right-click, properties, and choose my "notepad2", the change won't take effect. It will still stay the default notepad."

R-click a txt file, then 'Open with', then 'Choose another app'. In next window, find and choose notepad2 then tick 'Always use this ...' at bottom.

cannot change file association-screenshot_1.jpg

trogne · 16 Oct 2018

Attachment 208726

"Always" is checked. The change does not happen.

dalchina · 17 Oct 2018

You can investigate - and try restarting file explorer as an experiment -see attached doct.

There are several such reports with recent Windows builds.
One person commented it seems to work if you repeat the process (i.e. do it twice). Hmm, sthg wrong with Windows if so, but try it...
Which build are you using? Windows key + R, winver

Which program are you using as Notepad2.exe?

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To post an attachment, 'Go advanced' & use the Paperclip icon.

Thanks.

trogne · 17 Oct 2018

This is notepad2 , by far my favorite notepad replacement : http://www.flos-freeware.ch/notepad2.html

My current windows build : 17134.345

I just cannot change program using "Change" next to "Opens with" in file properties.

I also tried after restarting computer.

dalchina · 18 Oct 2018

Please work thru and use the attached document, in my post above.
Also note some have suggested using Open With twice in succession in that build.

trogne · 18 Oct 2018

I worked through the document. Yes I can change the extension with Filetypesman, but it doesn't correct the problem.
I cannot change the file type association by "properties", "open with", "change",...

dalchina · 18 Oct 2018

Please describe what you see with Filetypesman (screenshot). Have you checked whether the registry was updated? (Check again what filetypesman shows after a restart).

Experimental:
Have you tried making the change twice?

Have you tried making the change, then restarting explorer?

Presumably you ticked the box 'Always use this app...' in the Open With dialogue.

I've downloaded Notepad2 and associated it with .txt using Open With, .... Browse to..

trogne · 18 Oct 2018

Here's an example with a ".abc" extension.

".abc" does not show in Filetypesman, cause it doesn't exist yet.
It does not show in "Choose default application by file type" too.

It doesn't show after trying to change extension twice.
Same after restarting explorer.

The box "Always use this app" is now absent. But it was not working when the box was there too.
If I click "More apps", I see more app choices, then scroll down and can click "Look for another app on pc", where I can choose the .exe with file explorer. But it's not working too.

Now with an extension that already exist.
For example .chm :

Here I can only select an app from the the app store.

In Filetypesman, there's .chm.
If I try to change to notepad2 twice, and restart windows explorer and Filetypes man, the modified time does not change.

As I said, it was working before. I could change anything I want to notepad2, using "properties", "change"...

HeM · 18 Oct 2018

trogne said:

...I just cannot change program using "Change" next to "Opens with" in file properties...

YES! We understood that. It's a (known) bug. No one can change file association by this way or by Settings/Apps/Default app, in some cases.

The workaround: Right click on file > Open with > Choose another app and if app appears on list, select it with "Always use..." checked. If this doesn't work OR app does not appear on list, navigate to desired app(.exe), click OK, open the file with it, then go again to Open with > Choose another app, select it from the list on which now appears, check "Always use...", then OK and...that's it.
If, following exactly this, issue persists...I don't know...reinstall or wait.