Default File Associations - Restore in Windows 8

How to Restore Default File Extension Type Associations in Windows 8 and 8.1​

   Information

This tutorial will allow you to restore the default registry entries and program associations for the file extension type and protocol of your choice in Windows 8, Windows RT, Windows 8.1, and Windows RT 8.1.

This can be helpful for example when a file extension type opens with the wrong program by default, has the wrong icon, or is missing or corrupted in the registry. Downloading the .reg file for the selected file extension below, will restore that file extension back to default for all of these items above.

Default program associations for file extensions are a per user setting by default, so you will need to be logged on to the effected user account to be able to restore the default associations of the file extension for that specific user account.

   Warning

These default file associations should only be used in Windows 8 and 8.1.

   Note

The list of available default file extension and protocol associations below is just a start for now, and is a work in progress.

I'll constantly be adding more to the list, but if one you need is not listed yet below, then please post a request for it. I'll be happy to get it added to the list.

Here's How:

1. Click/tap on the link of the file extension type or protocol in the table below that you would like to restore the default associations of to download it's .reg file.

2. Save the .reg file to your desktop.

3. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to Merge it.

4. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.

   Tip

• If you are signed in as a standard user account, then you will also get a Cannot import type error. Just click/tap OK for it. This is normal since what cannot be imported can only be done so by an administrator account instead. It will still restore the default associations of the file extension if the standard user used Open with to select the wrong program to open the file with.

• If the .reg file is not able to Merge, then double check in Default Programs to make sure that the .reg file extension has it's Current Default program set as Registry Editor (C:\Windows\regedit.exe). Afterwards, try merging the .reg file again.

5. Sign out and in, or restart the computer to apply.

6. If you are logged in as a standard user and this still does not help, then have the administrator also merge the needed .reg file for the listed file extension or protocol below while logged into their administrator account.

7. When finished, you can delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.




Default Windows 8 and 8.1 File Associations:

   Note

To download all available default file extensions in the table below in one ZIP folder, click on the Download button below and save the ZIP file to your desktop. Open the ZIP file, and extract (drag and drop) to your desktop any .reg file for file extensions you want to use. You can now pick up at step 3 above.

File Type or Protocol	Default Program	Description
.3gp	Video app	Audio and video container format developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP); designed as a multimedia format for transmitting audio and video files between 3G cell phones and over the Internet; commonly used by mobile phones that support video capture.
.avi	Video app	Audio Video Interleave (AVI) files
.bat		Windows batch file
.bmp	Photos app	Bitmap image file
.cab		Cabinet file
.cer	Crypto Shell Extensions	Security Certificate file
.cmd		Windows Command Script
.contact	Windows Contacts	Contact file
.cpl	Windows Control Panel	Control Panel item
.crt	Crypto Shell Extensions	Security Certificate file
.cur		Cursor
.dat		Generic data file created by a specific application; typically accessed only by the application that created the file; may contain data in text or binary format; text-based DAT files can be viewed in a text editor.
.dds		DDS (DirectDraw Surface) image
.der	Crypto Shell Extensions	Security Certificate file
Directory		Directory protocol associations
.dll		A Dynamic Link Library (dll) file is a support file used by one or more programs. Application extension.
Drive		Drives
.exe		Executable application files
.ext		EXT File. For example, email text attachment.
Folder		All folders except library folder
.gif	Photos app	Graphics Interchange Format (GIF) image files
.hlp	Windows Winhlp32 Stub	Help file
.htm	Internet Explorer	HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language) document files
.html	Internet Explorer	HTML (Hypertext Mark-up Language) document files
http	Internet Explorer	URL: HyperText Transfer Protocol
https	Internet Explorer	URL: HyperText Transfer Protocol with Privacy
.ico	Windows Photo Viewer	Icon file
.img		CD or DVD image file
.inf	Notepad	Setup Information
.iso		Disk image file
.jpe	Photos app	Compressed image format standardized by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
.jpeg	Photos app	Compressed image format standardized by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
.jpg	Photos app	Compressed image format standardized by the Joint Photographic Experts Group (JPEG)
.jnt	Windows Journal	Windows Journal file
.library-ms		Library folder
.lnk (LNK)		Shortcuts
.m4a	Windows Media Player	MPEG-4 audio file.
mailto		URL:mailto
.mapimail		Mail service
.mov	Video app	Movie file
.mp3	Music app	MP3 sound format file
.mp4	Video app	MPEG-4 movie file
.mpg	Windows Media Player	Movie clip
.msi	Windows installer	Windows Installer Package
.msu	Windows Update Standalone installer	Windows Update Standalone Package
.nfo	System Information	System Information File
Open with - > Choose default program		This is for what opens when you right click on a file, click on Open with, and click on Choose default program.
Package		Package protocol
.pdf	Reader app	Portable Document Format (PDF) File
.png	Photos app	Portable Network Graphics (PNG) is a bitmap compression method for image files. PNG supports 16.7 million colors, it is lossless and also supports index color, grayscale, true color, transparency, and is streamable. It is thus the best compression method (better than GIF or JPEG) for use on the web.
.scr		Screen saver
.theme	Personalization CPL	Windows Theme File
.themepack	Personalization CPL	Windows Theme Pack File
.ttf	Windows Font Viewer	TrueType font file
.txt	Notepad	Text files
Type		To remove association with blank file extension.
.url	current default Internet Browser	Internet website shortcut
.vbs	Microsoft Windows Based Script Host (wscript.exe)	VBScript Script File
.vhd		Virtual Hard Disk image file
.wab	Windows Contacts	Windows Address Book (WAB) file
.wav	Music app	Wave audio file
.website	Internet Explorer	Pinned Site Shortcut
.wma	Music app	Windows Media Audio file
.wmv	Video app	Windows Media Audio/Video file
.workfolders	Windows Control Panel	Microsoft Workfolders
.xaml	Windows Presentation Foundation Host	Windows Markup file
.xml	Internet Explorer	XML Document
.zip		Compressed folders

Related Tutorials

---

• How to Set Your Default Programs in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Change Default Program of a File using "Open with" in Windows 8
• How to Associate a File Type or Protocol with a Program in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Unassociate a File Extension Type in Vista, Windows 7, and Windows 8
• Disable "You have new apps that can open this type of file" Notification in Windows 8
• Fix Open with "Choose default program" No Program Associated Error in Windows 8 and 8.1
• How to Do a System Restore in Windows 8 and 8.1

 

[Brink]

Hello MaxPower, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You should be able to use Open with again to set .module files to open with the program you wanted by default.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/7811-open-change-default-program-windows-8-a.html

 

[MaxPower]

Hello MaxPower, and welcome to Eight Forums.

You should be able to use Open with again to set .module files to open with the program you wanted by default.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/7811-open-change-default-program-windows-8-a.html

But I don't know what program opens module files by default. I mean I know what program/application opens some of my module files but what if I download new folders in the future which contain module files then wouldn't all those files also be opened with the program/application that I chose? I would just like to get the module files to be assigned to the correct program/application automatically every time and that the original module file icon would be shown instead of the notepad icons that I have now. Oh and I can't choose the "Choose default program..." option from the "Open with..." context menu, when I right click on my module files then the context menu appears and there is an "Open with..." option but it doesn't expand to the menu where I could click on the "Choose default program..." option. When I click on the "Open with..." option then a box appears where it says: "How do you want to open this file?" -> ticked small box "Use this application for all .module files" (when I untick the small box and close it and then open it again the small box is still ticked) -> "Keep using Notepad" -> "More options"
So basically I don't know what program/application opens .module files by default.


Thank you for the welcome by the way and thanks for taking the time to share all this information.

 

[Brink]

By default there is no association to a program for .module files in Windows.

If there's a specific program you want to open them with, that would be the program to select. Otherwise, you could unassociate .module files to not have a default for them.

File Extension Type - Unassociate - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[MaxPower]

By default there is no association to a program for .module files in Windows.

If there's a specific program you want to open them with, that would be the program to select. Otherwise, you could unassociate .module files to not have a default for them.

File Extension Type - Unassociate - Windows 7 Help Forums

That unassociate.bat program worked like a charm. Everything's back to normal now. Thank you very much for your help! :thumb:

 

[Brink]

Great news. I'm glad it could help.

 

[Ilhammaulana240]

Thanks Man :thumb: Finally my mp3 thumnails show but how about add more extention like m4a

sorry for my bad english

 

[Brink]

Hello Ilhammaulana, and welcome to Eight Forums.

.m4a added to list.

 

[fady005]

Hi !
I would need the one for the .mov extension.
Thanks for your help !

 

[Brink]

Hello Fady, and welcome to Eight Forums.

.mov added to list.

 

[fady005]

Thanks a lot !

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[melrod311]

Is there any way you could add .pcr extensions to the fix?? It is a Print Shop extension (Broderbund) and I can't open my files. Help if you can please : )

Thank you,

 

[Brink]

Hello Melrod, and welcome to Eight Forums.

There's not an association for .pcr files by default in Windows. If you like, you could use Open with to set .pcr files to open with Print Shop.

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/7811-open-change-default-program-windows-8-a.html

 

[Roggie Rog]

I've twice tried to remedy opening an .exe file that opens in Notepad, but with no succes. I ran the exe.reg app, restarted Windows, and the file still opens in Notepad. Please help.

 

[Brink]

Hello Rog, and welcome to Eight Forums.

If you like, you could doing a system restore using a restore point dated before this happened should be able to sort it for you.,

http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4692-system-restore-how-do-windows-8-a.html

 

[Roggie Rog]

Thanks for your speedy reply Brink. I don't know when this happened. Quite frankly, its only happening with the Crucial System Scanner app, which is used to scan my systems RAM and HDD to determine upgrade options. I don't wish to do a restore because I've spent a significant amount of time installing software and configuring my new PC to suit my needs. I'm hoping to resolve this by some other means, and I'm willing to cut my losses since its only happening with this one app.

 

[Brink]

Rog,

It appears that the CrucialScan.exe file creates an .htm file, then tries to open the .htm file to scan your system with.

Crucial.com - Crucial System Scanner

Setting to open .htm files with Internet Explorer should sort this for you. The downloads in the tutorial for .htm and .html will do this for you.

 

[Roggie Rog]

Brink, that totally did the trick! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

 

[Brink]

You're most welcome.

 

[deepdvd]

I have a user with this issue for .docx and .xlsx files. Doing Open With... and check the always box doesn't solve the problem. Can someone make a .reg fix for these extensions?