Restore default file association in Windows Vista and Windows 7

By on July 1, 2009 6

Windows Vista and Windows 7 allows you to change the program used to open a file. Sometime We set wrong association with file type and there is no option to revert back to default settings. So here is the only way to do that.


How To:

1. Run Registry Editor and navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\[Extension]
2. Expand the [extension] key and choose UserChoice key and delete all its sub keys
3. If it doesn’t work, delete the UserChoice key itself.

NOTE: To revert back to all default file association as we get after fresh clean installation of Windows Vista, We can delete all sub keys under FileExts.

Applies To:
  • Windows Server 2008 R2
  • Windows 7
  • Windows Server 2008
  • Windows Vista

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  • dutty

    ok i found it its, regedit.exe when read registry editor taught it was another file.. thanks works..

    live saving tutor

  • dutty

    and how to get the registery editor.. i searched from start its not on windows , must i have to download it.. thanks awaiting reply

  • dutty

    am on server 2008 r2, i have a file which is supposed to run with python.. but i mistakely set to cmd.. and when i go to control panel and try change it has the always use the selected program to open this file pre-saved that i can’t thick it anylonger , and for that reason i can’t run the script has it keeps opening in cmd… pls help

  • Craig Twedt

    This post saved me a lot of trouble. Solution worked fine. Thank You! Regards, Craig

  • http://56RzzR56.deviantart.com Renaisan

    but, i cant open the task manager…what should i do?

    • http://www.windowsvalley.com Author

      What happens when you try to open/run Task Manager?
      Use Ctrl+Shift+Esc shortcut key or Right click on Taskbar and choose Start Task Manager