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windows 11 notepad issues

Toxic 10 Reputation points
2026-01-09T17:50:10.4733333+00:00

When I try to set up real notepad as the default application for opening log, txt, and json files it errors and says "the program you have selected cannot be associated with this file type please chose another program." I need a solution to this notepad bug.

Cheers,

Konrad

Windows for business | Windows 365 Business
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  1. VPHAN 34,635 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-09T18:25:14.8+00:00

    Hello Konrad Skowronski,

    To resolve this, right-click the Start button and select Terminal (Admin) or PowerShell (Admin). Execute the following command to completely strip the corrupted Notepad package from the system: Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.WindowsNotepad* | Remove-AppxPackage. Once the command completes without red text errors, open the Microsoft Store, search for "Windows Notepad" (published by Microsoft Corporation), and click Install. This process forces Windows to write a fresh AppxManifest.xml and properly re-register the file association capabilities in HKCU\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\AppPaths.

    After the clean installation, navigate to Settings > Apps > Default apps, search for "Notepad," and explicitly set it as the default for .txt, .log, and .json. If you were attempting to manually browse to C:\Windows\System32\notepad.exe and received that error, it is because the "App Execution Alias" is locking that filename. You would need to toggle "Notepad" to Off in Settings > Apps > Advanced app settings > App execution aliases to use the legacy executable directly, but the Store version reset described above is the preferred and most stable fix for Windows 11.

    I hope you've found something useful here. If it helps you get more insight into the issue, it's appreciated to accept the answer. Should you have more questions, feel free to leave a message. Have a nice day!

    VP

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  2. d3x0r 20 Reputation points
    2026-01-25T05:29:06.29+00:00

    I used 'store install notepad' in the same prompt after Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.WindowsNotepad* | Remove-AppxPackage- worked fine. thank you.

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  3. d3x0r 20 Reputation points
    2026-01-25T05:24:25.19+00:00

    I used 'store install notepad' in the same prompt after Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.WindowsNotepad* | Remove-AppxPackage- worked fine. thank you.

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  4. VPHAN 34,635 Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2026-01-14T09:02:48.34+00:00

    Hello Konrad Skowronski,

    I wanted to follow up to ensure the PowerShell package reset successfully cleared the file association blocking error. As previously noted, this specific error arises when the App Execution Alias desynchronizes from the UWP manifest, making the Get-AppxPackage *Microsoft.WindowsNotepad* | Remove-AppxPackage command essential to purge the corrupted registry hooks before a clean Store reinstall can take effect. If you have completed the reinstall and are still unable to map .txt or .log files, we may need to manually delete the locked UserChoice hash in the registry at HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.txt\UserChoice to force Windows to accept a new default application.

    If the issue has been successfully resolved, please consider accepting the answer as it helps other people sharing the same question benefit too. Thank you!

    VP

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  5. AI answer

    2026-01-09T17:50:22.91+00:00

    It seems like you're experiencing an issue with setting Notepad as the default application for certain file types in Windows 11. Here are some steps you can try to resolve this issue:

    1. Check File Associations: Make sure that Notepad is properly registered to handle the file types you want to associate it with. You can do this by going to Settings > Apps > Default apps and searching for Notepad. From there, you can set it as the default for .log, .txt, and .json files.
    2. Use the "Open with" Option: Right-click on a file of the type you want to open (e.g., a .txt file), select Open with, and then choose Notepad. If Notepad is not listed, you can select Choose another app and find Notepad in the list. Make sure to check the box that says Always use this app to open .txt files before clicking OK.
    3. Reinstall Notepad: If the issue persists, you might want to try reinstalling Notepad. You can do this by going to Settings > Apps > Optional features, and then uninstalling and reinstalling Notepad from there.
    4. Check for Windows Updates: Sometimes, issues like this can be resolved by ensuring that your Windows 11 installation is up-to-date. Go to Settings > Windows Update and check for any available updates.
    5. Registry Edit: If you're comfortable with it, you can also check the Windows Registry to ensure that the file associations are correctly set. Be cautious with this step, as incorrect changes can affect your system.

    If these steps do not resolve the issue, it may be worth checking online forums or Microsoft support for further assistance specific to your situation.

    References:

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