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How to dis-associate a default file extension in Windows 10?

Anonymous
2018-01-05T08:38:13+00:00

Hi everyone,

I accidentally associated a Keynote file (Apple's answer to PowerPoint) with PowerPoint. It is a file with the ".key" extension. Now I can't upload my Keynote files on iCloud since iCloud thinks all my Keynote files are PowerPoint files.

The only location I can address this association issue in Windows 10 is in  "Control panel" > "Default program" > "Associate a file ..." > "Choose default applications by file type" 

There, I can see that my ".key" extension is associated with PowerPoint. 

How do I dis-associate the ".key" extension from PowerPoint and leave it without an association (as I don't have keynote installed), ie with the "+ Choose a default" option? Indeed, there is no "remove default" button on the "Choose default applications by file type" window in control panel.

Thanks for your help .......

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  1. Steve Rindsberg 99,161 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-01-05T23:06:51+00:00

    One possibility:

    Open a command prompt and type:

    ASSOC .key

    That will show you what program .key files are associated ("program" in a geeky sort of way, but you'll be able to figure it out)

    To delete the association, type:

    ASSOC .key=

    You may get a permission denied error when you do this.  If so, close the command prompt, then open a new one by holding down SHIFT while you right click the command prompt icon; choose Run as Administrator.

    Then repeat:  ASSOC .key=

    If it buys that, you can type:

    ASSOC .key

    and get a message like "File association not found for extension .key"

    9 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2018-01-05T22:15:41+00:00

    Hello,

    Thank you for reaching out to us. Windows 10 has a feature to reset the file association using the Control Panel. Kindly follow the steps below on how to remove the .key file from you PowerPoint file associations:

    1. Right click the Windows icon and choose Control Panel.
    2. Click on Programs.
    3. Click on Default Programs.
    4. Click on Set your default programs.
    5. Choose the program that you want to set the defaults from the Programs menu on the left.
    6. After selecting a PowerPoint, click Choose defaults for this program.
    7. A list of all file types can be viewed, remove the check mark on the .key file type and click Save. Close the window and check.

    Let us know the results.

    Hi Xylee,

    Thanks for this advice and I have tried it.

    When I do it, I only have 2 options when I do what you suggest:

    1. Select powerpoint, or
    2. Find an application on the web

    Unfortunately, Keynote is not a Windows application so I can't do anything

    However, it is important that I disassociate ".key" from PowerPoint and end up with [+ choose a default] because I cannot upload any of my Keynotes files on iCloud because iCloud doesn't allow us to upload "non-apple" files.

    Can you help solve this problem?

    Thanks in anticipation.

    5 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2018-01-08T20:20:00+00:00

    Hi Steve,

    I didn't solve it; I called in my IT friend who did it.

    Somehow he downloaded & installed the NotePad app;

    He then was able to associate the .key file with notepad.

    He then went in the registry & did something (I didn't see his manipulation) and now the .key files are not associated with anything.

    I hope that it makes sense to you.

    Cheers

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  4. Steve Rindsberg 99,161 Reputation points MVP Volunteer Moderator
    2018-01-08T16:45:41+00:00

    Gilles,

    Glad to hear the problem is solved; would you please let us know how you solved it?

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2018-01-05T12:33:29+00:00

    Hello,

    Thank you for reaching out to us. Windows 10 has a feature to reset the file association using the Control Panel. Kindly follow the steps below on how to remove the .key file from you PowerPoint file associations:

    1. Right click the Windows icon and choose Control Panel.
    2. Click on Programs.
    3. Click on Default Programs.
    4. Click on Set your default programs.
    5. Choose the program that you want to set the defaults from the Programs menu on the left.
    6. After selecting a PowerPoint, click Choose defaults for this program.
    7. A list of all file types can be viewed, remove the check mark on the .key file type and click Save. Close the window and check.

    Let us know the results.

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