As a Windows user, you might encounter situations where a file opens up in a program that you didn’t intend to use. For example, you might want to open a .txt file in Notepad, but it’s opening in Wordpad. This happens because Windows has associated that file type with that particular program. Thankfully, it’s easy to change file associations in Windows. Here’s how:

Method 1: Change file associations via File Explorer

1. Open File Explorer and navigate to a file whose association you want to change.
2. Right-click on the file and select “Properties” from the context menu.
3. Click on the “Change” button next to “Opens with” at the top of the Properties window.
4. Select the program that you want to associate the file with from the list or click “More apps” to see additional programs. You can also click “Search” to find a specific program on your computer.
5. Once you’ve selected the program, click “OK” to save the changes.

Method 2: Change file associations via Control Panel

1. Open the Control Panel and click on “Programs” and then “Default Programs.”
2. Click on “Associate a file type or protocol with a program” to see a list of file types.
3. Scroll down the list and find the file type that you want to change the association for.
4. Click on the file type and then click on “Change program” at the top of the window.
5. Choose the program you want to associate the file with and click “OK.”

That’s it! You’ve now changed the file association for a specific file type in Windows. Keep in mind that changing file associations can sometimes have unintended consequences, so be careful before making any changes. If you’re not sure which program to associate a file with, it’s always a good idea to check with the software manufacturer or a tech support professional.