Windows 11 - I set one file association and all the others disappeared

Bwa ha ha ha I'm not doing a system restore just for file associations LOL.

Jesus Christ these bots are stupid!

Dear MChapman87,

Thank you for your response and for sharing your thoughts on the advice I provided.

The precision of your problem description directly influences the accuracy of the guidance I can offer. I acknowledge that effective communication and a comprehensive understanding of the issue are vital for delivering precise assistance. When you mentioned file associations, my mind naturally gravitated towards concepts like file associations, default programs, and system restore. I attempted to address your query from these angles.

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Best Regards,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist

Dear MChapman87,

Welcome to the Microsoft Community

Thank you for reaching out. I understand that you are experiencing an issue with file associations in Windows 11 after changing one association. I apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. Let's work together to resolve this problem.

Changing a file association should only affect the specific file type you modified, and it shouldn't impact other file associations. To address this issue, please try the following troubleshooting steps:

1. Reset File Associations:
   • Press Windows + I to open the Settings app.
   • Go to "Apps" > "Default apps" > "Choose default apps by file type."
   • Scroll down and locate the file type that you modified.
   • Click on the current default application and select the appropriate program from the list.
   • Repeat this process for any other file types you want to restore.
2. Use the Default Programs Control Panel:
   • Press Windows + R, type control, and hit Enter to open the Control Panel.
   • Go to "Programs" > "Default Programs" > "Set Associations."
   • Scroll through the list of file types, locate the affected file types, and click "Change program."
   • Choose the desired program and click "OK."
3. System Restore (Optional):
   • If the above steps don't resolve the issue, you can try using System Restore to revert your computer back to a point before the file association changes were made.
   • Press Windows + R, type rstrui.exe, and hit Enter to open the System Restore wizard.
   • Follow the on-screen instructions to choose a restore point and restore your system.

If none of the above steps resolve the issue, please provide more details about the specific file type and the program you associated it with. Additionally, it would be helpful to know if you have made any other changes or installed any new software recently. Please let me know if you need further assistance. I'm here to help!

Best Regards,

Martin | Microsoft Community Support Specialist