Jtdylktuy

I was attempting to change file open preferences on Windows 10 today, when I encountered an unexpected behavior.

Normally, when choosing associations, I will be able to select the "Always open with" checkbox as I could previously with older Windows versions since 98. However, when trying to choose image files, the association window did not show the checkbox.

The normal version of this window should look like this:

This question was also asked on Reddit but there was no answer there.

How should I go about changing the default file open program in this case?

There is different look (and behaviour) of that dialog for any file type:

Context -> Open With ► -> Choose Default Program…:

or Context -> Properties (General tab) -> Change… button
or (the same) Change program… button in Control Panel … Set Associations:

Conclusion:
The last dialog is intended to set default program for all files of given extension; therefore, the Always use this app to open … checkbox would be superfluous here.

Please note:

• 
  Context key is used in above text as an abbreviation for mouse right-clicking i.e. usual request for a context menu which is performed on the keyboard either by clicking the Context key (menu-like looking key usually to the right of the space bar between RightAlt and RightCtrl) or by Shift+F10;


• images were taken from Windows 8.1 but behaviour keeps unchanged and should apply to Windows 10 as well;


• (too long to comment; I'll meet your wish if you do call for deleting this answer.)

It's not an exact answer to the question, but I was able to re-set the application used for media/image files by using the windows key and searching for "choose default apps" -- this pops up the "choose default apps" app (yes, I know...) and from there you can set what program (VLC, IrfanView, etc) is used for media files...

My recent Windows 10 install was also missing the "Always use this app..." checkbox. I got "Always use this app..." back somehow:

I'm not exactly sure how I got it back, but I think it was:

1. Run Stop Resetting My Apps
   


2. Click all the different types (to prevent Windows from resetting)


3. Click all the different types again (to allow resetting, again)

However, between steps 2 and 3 I tried many other things:

• https://defaultprogramseditor.com/


• https://ystr.github.io/types/


• http://www.nirsoft.net/utils/file_types_manager.html

I think one or more of these programs reset a Windows 10 registry flag that enables/disables "Always use this app..."

Background information on why recent versions of Windows 10 are missing ""Always use this app..."

The easiest way to solve this problem is to use the "FileTypesMan" free tool, choose the file associations that are producing this problem and right click on "Open File Type in RegEdit", then just DELETE the keys and try using "Open with" again - the "always use this app to open .xxx files" should be restored when you use "Open with" again. Obviously this works with any kind of files!

I found a solution to this.

• Right click on document that you want to assign a default a program to it


• Click Properties
  


• Click Change

• Then choose the program that you want. That's it!