In Windows, how do I change what program opens a file type?

If you double-click a file in Windows and it opens in the wrong program, follow these steps to change the default program that opens it. You can change this setting for an individual file, or you can tell Windows to open all files of that same type in a particular program. To do so, follow the appropriate instructions below.

Note: The File Extension Source lists most file extensions and their associated programs.

Windows 7 or Vista

1. Open the folder containing the file you want to change.
   
   
2. Right-click the file you want to change, and then, depending on the type of file, either click Open With or point to Open With and then click Choose Default Program.
   
   
3. Click the program you want to use to open this file.
   
   
4. If you want all files of that type to open in the same software program, select Always use the selected program to open this kind of file, and then click OK. Otherwise, leave the check box unchecked. Then click OK.

Windows XP

For Windows XP instructions, see Microsoft Support.

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