The default program in Windows can be set for particular file types using the Windows File Associations feature. A file association associates a particular file type with an application that can open and manipulate that file type. This allows Windows to determine which application should be used to open a file when the user double-clicks on it or attempts to open it from within another application.
To set a file association in Windows, follow these steps:
1. Open File Explorer (Windows key + E).
2. Locate the file whose association you wish to change.
3. Right-click on the file´s icon and select “Properties” from the drop-down menu.
4. In the Properties window, click on the “General” tab and then the “Change” button.
5. Select the application you want to use to open the file and click “OK”.
6. If the application is not listed, select the “Browse” button and find the executable file (.exe) of the program you want to use.
7. Click “OK” to save your changes.
You can also set a file association using the Control Panel. To do so:
1. Go to the Windows Control Panel.
2. Select “Appearance and Personalization.”
3. Click “Folder Options.”
4. Click the “File Types” tab.
5. Scroll down and locate the file type you wish to set a program for.
6. Select the file type and click the “Change” button.
7. Select the program you wish to use and click “OK”.
8. Click “OK” to save your changes.
You can also set a default program for all file types by selecting the “Set Your Default Programs” option in the Control Panel. From here you can select a program to handle all of your file types by default.
Once a file association has been made, you can quickly toggle between different programs by right-clicking on the file’s icon and selecting “Open With” from the drop-down menu. This will display a list of applications which are capable of opening the file. If the desired application is not listed, click “Choose Default Program…” which opens the same window described above.
By setting default programs, Windows can automatically open files without requiring you to manually choose the application each time. However, it is important to remember that changing the default program for a file type does not automatically make that program the best choice. It is best to research the capabilities and compatibility of the desired application before permanently associating it with a file type.