Sometimes file association gets corrupted and there is no way to remove File Type associations in Windows, in this case, say a .txt file will be opened with a web browser or Excel and this is why it’s very important to remove file type associations. So without wasting any time let’s see how to fix this issue with the below-listed troubleshooting steps.
How to Remove File Type Associations in Windows 10
Make sure to create a restore point just in case something goes wrong.
How to Remove File Type Associations in Windows 10 Option 1: Reset all file type and protocol associations to the Microsoft defaults Option 2: Restore File Type Associations using DISM Tool Option 3: Registry Fix for removing File Association Option 4: Remove File Association for a particular app manually Option 5: Remove File Associations with a 3rd party utility Unassociate File Types
Option 1: Reset all file type and protocol associations to the Microsoft defaults
Press Windows Key + I to open Settings then click System.
Then from the left window pane select Default apps.
Click on Reset under Reset to the Microsoft recommended defaults.
That’s it you have reset all the file type associations to Microsoft defaults.
Option 2: Restore File Type Associations using DISM Tool
Note: Go to a working computer and run the Export command first then go back to your PC and then run the Import command.
- Press Windows Key + X then select Command Prompt (Admin).
- Type the following command in cmd and hit Enter: dism /online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:”%UserProfile%\Desktop\DefaultAppAssociations.xml”
Note: This would create the DefaultAppAssociations.xml file on your desktop.
Go to your desktop and copy the file to a USB.
Next, go to the PC where the file association is messed up and copy the file to your desktop (this is important for the below command to work).
Now restore the original file association on your PC by typing the command: Note: If you renamed the DefaultAppAssociations.xml file or you have copied the file to some other location than your desktop then you need to change the command in the red to the new path or the new name you chose for the file. dism /online /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:”%UserProfile%\Desktop\MyDefaultAppAssociations.xml“ Note: Replace the above path (C:\PATH\TO\FILE.xml) with the location of the file which you copied.
Reboot your PC and you may have Restored File Type Associations in your PC.
Option 3: Registry Fix for removing File Association
Press Windows Key + R then type regedit and hit Enter to open Registry Editor.
Navigate to the following registry key: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
Now find the file extension for which you want to remove the association in the above key.
Once you have located the extension then right-click and select delete. This would delete the default file association of the program. For example: if you want to delete the default file association of .jpeg which is Photo Viewer then delete the .jpeg subkey in the above path and when you will again open the .jpeg file it will ask for default program to open the app with.
In order for above to take effect to reboot your PC or restart your explorer.exe
If you’re still not able to remove file associations then you need to also delete the same key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT. Once you do that you will be able to successfully Remove File Type Associations for the particular file but there are other options also if you don’t want to mess with the registry.
Option 4: Remove File Association for a particular app manually
Open Notepad and Click File > Save as.
Type the name with the extension .xyz for example, Aditya.xyz
Choose the desired location where you want to save the file.
Next, select “All files” under Save as type and then click Save.
Now right-click your file (whose file type association you want to remove) and select “Open with” then click on Choose another app.
Now checkmark “Always use this app to open .txt files” and then select Look for another app on this PC.
Select All files from the bottom right drop-down and navigate to the file which you saved above (Aditya.xyz in this case) and select that file and click Open.
If you will try to open your file you will face an error This app can’t run on your PC, no problem just go to the next step.
Once the File type association is confirmed just delete the file you created above (Aditya.xyz). Now it will force the .png file type (or the file which you select) to make a file association again, and you can choose the app in which you want your program to open with.
If you don’t want to choose the app every time you open the file then again right-click then select “Open with” then click Choose another app.
Now checkmark “Always use this app to open .txt files” and then select the app with which you want to open the file.
Reboot your PC to save changes.
Option 5: Remove File Associations with a 3rd party utility Unassociate File Types
Download the tool unassoc_1_4.zip.
Next right click on the zip and select extract here.
Right-click on unassoc.exe then select Run as Administrator.
Now select the file type from the list and click “Remove file association(User).“
Once the File type association is removed you need to re-associate the file which is easy, when you again open the app it will ask you with an option to choose a program to open the file with.
Now the Delete button helps if you want to completely delete the file type association from the registry. Both the user-specific and global associations for the chosen file type is removed.
Reboot PC to save changes and this would successfully Remove File Type Associations. Recommended for you:
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That’s it you have successfully learned How to Remove File Type Associations in Windows 10 if you still have any queries regarding this post feel free to ask them in the comment’s section.
