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How to undo "always open with" option in Windows 10 (1803 build)

Anonymous
2018-09-14T23:49:31+00:00

I accidentally click "always open with" a particular application on a BibTeX file and now the icons of all such files change to the icon of that app and I cannot find a way to undo the operation. In fact, I want Windows to always ask me how to open a BibTeX file instead of sticking to a specific program. Thanks for any suggestions!

Here I found some related posts but none of them seem to solve my problem:

Here are what I've tried, but none of them works:

  • Execute "assoc .bib= && assoc .bibtex=" in cmd.exe as Administrator. Nothing happens.
  • In Settings under "choose default apps by file type", remove the default app at ".bib" entry. However, there's no such entry.
Windows for home | Windows 10 | Settings

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  1. Vijay A. Verma 104.8K Reputation points Volunteer Moderator
    2018-09-15T07:23:01+00:00
    1. Open Notepad > File > Save As > Put a name in File Name: box with extension.exe (example - temp.exe) and change Save As type: to all files and OK
    2. Now right click on the file whose association do you want to change or remove > Open with > Choose another app > Scroll down > More apps > Look for another app on this PC > Choose the .exe file of step 1 > OK

    Now delete the .exe file of step 1.

    This will cause the association to be broken.

    Credit - DaveM121

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Answer accepted by question author

  1. DaveM121 875.1K Reputation points Independent Advisor
    2018-09-15T08:15:00+00:00

    Hi Kevin, it is not easy to remove a file association in Windows 10,

    Open Windows File Explorer

    On the view Ribbon (tab) check the box marked 'File Name Extensions'

    Close File Explorer

    Right click your Desktop and choose New - Text File

    Change the file extension on that new file from .txt to .exe

    Confirm the change

    Right click a BibTeX file, choose open with - Choose another App

    Check the box marked 'Always use this app to open .BibTeX files' - IMPORTANT!

    Scroll to the bottom and click 'More Apps'

    Again scroll to the bottom and choose 'Find another app on this PC'

    Navigate to the dummy file exe on your Desktop and click OK

    The BibTeX file will not open

    Delete the dummy exe file on your Desktop and restart your PC

    The file association will then be broken!

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  1. Anonymous
    2018-09-14T23:56:17+00:00

    Hi, i hope you're doing good today.

    You can try to go to default apps and click on "Reset to the Microsoft Recommended defaults"

    Regards.

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  2. Anonymous
    2018-11-21T17:10:34+00:00

    just want you to know, you are a life saver!

    thanks!

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  3. Anonymous
    2018-09-24T04:24:35+00:00

    First of all thanks for your reply. I solved the problem with BibTeX file. However, when I apply this method to another file with a different extension name, the icon ends up with that for an exe file, rather than a blank file-like shape. Any suggestion how to fix? Thanks!

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