windows remove default program to open file
Option 1: If you don't want to mess with registries or command line
Step 1: Open file explorer
Step 2: Create a text file, change the extension by making sure the file ends with .exe
(it is an empty exe file, so if you try to run it windows will complain that it doesn't understand the file)
Step 3: Locate (or create) a file whose extension you want to remove associations from
Step 4: Right click -> open with -> make sure 'always open with this app' is selected -> choose another app on pc -> locate the .exe file you just created -> select it
Step 5: Profit (or delete your random .exe file I guess)
Option 2: Use dism in commandline and edit .xml file
(note: this option did not work for me)
Step 1: open commandline with admin access
Start menu -> type 'cmd' in search bar
Right click command prompt and 'run as administrator'
Step 2: Export default app associations with following command:
dism /online /Export-DefaultAppAssociations:"%UserProfile%\Desktop\DefaultAppAssociations.xml"
(a file has appeared on your desktop)
Step 3: Open the file with whatever text editor pleases you
Make necessary changes. E.g. search the file extension and delete that line
Step 4: Inport new app association settings with following command:
dism /online /Import-DefaultAppAssociations:"%UserProfile%\Desktop\DefaultAppAssociations.xml"
(Note: change the file path between "" if you changed the name or location of the file)
Step 5: reboot pc probably
Option 3: Registry Editor
(but this option did work)
Step 1: open Registry Editor
Windowskey+R -> type 'regedit' -> enter
Start menu -> search 'regedit' -> open Registry Editor
Step 2: navigate to following key:
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts
Step 3: Find file extension you want to remove association with
Ctrl+f is possible by the way
Step 4: Right click and select 'delete' on the file extension (without collapsing the folder thingy)
Step 4.1 If it doesn't work, delete the same key in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT
Step 5: reboot pc