Open With - missing 'Always use this app..'

Hi, I have two laptops running 1903 (18362.720), as you can see from my specs.

The check box "Always use this app..." is missing on the one with the more recent clean install (about 2.5 years ago). And it's missing if I create and use another user account.

It's present on the one with the much older clean Win 10 install, and with far more installed.

This problem is quite common. I've read many threads and comments on this, but been unable to find any that have solved this. Usually this problem is attributed to some rational sounding explanation. E.g.

"always use this app" missing in windows 10
and there are other examples on tenforums.

Well, on the older installation I certainly used the Control Panel default programs applet when that was functional.

I haven't tried an in-place upgrade repair install, and will wait for 20H1 rather than spend the time doing that just for this.

If you've any thoughts, they'd be welcome. Thanks!

@dalchina is the context menu missing Open With entry.

Remove Open With Context Menu in Windows 10

Thanks, no, Open With is present- on the problem PC, the check box 'Always use...' is missing - as shown in the screenshot in the link I posted.

https://www.askvg.com/how-to-enable-...th-dialog-box/

Matthew Wai said:

Is it missing from some or all types of files?

Thanks. All as in 100%.

@FreeBooter - I recall I tried that. Just had another look... still no change.
It's old of course, and relates to greying out the box, rather than the check box vanishing. (And the reverse).

Also those values/keys are not present on the PC where the check box exists.

dalchina said:

Also those values/keys are not present on the PC where the check box exists.

That is odd, I have those by default, when I remove the key - Open with ... fails to open.
The key Undecided might also be worth mentioning, it has the same entry as Unknown.

Thanks - could be an interesting difference - this from the problem PC - I'll look at the other one.


As to AskVG's:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Policies\Explorer is present, no DWORD value NoFileAssociate
on the 'good' PC.

@TairikuOkami - brilliant.. moving the value from 'debak' in my screenshot to DelegateExecute, then deleting 'debak' gave me back the checkbox in OpenWith. I'd give you +3 if I could.

There are many unresolved posts out there on this...

New tutorial below to help with this now available.

How to Add or Remove Open With 'Always use this app' in Windows 10