To stop Windows from asking which app to use when you open a particular kind of file, set a default app for that file’s extension in Settings > Apps > Default apps. If the prompt returns, check the association again; resetting Windows’ defaults is a broader step that can change other app choices.
Why Windows shows “Pick an app”
Windows uses file associations to decide which app opens each type of file. The prompt can appear when Windows does not have a usable default association for the file type. Start with the affected file’s extension—the part of its name after the final dot, such as .jpg or .txt—rather than choosing an app without checking what kind of file it is.
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Microsoft-hosted community answers describe checking or setting the association for the affected extension as a troubleshooting step. They do not establish that every recurring prompt has the same cause or that one fix works in every Windows configuration. See Microsoft Q&A guidance about the “Pick an app” prompt and Microsoft Q&A guidance about file-type associations.
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- Check the file type. In File Explorer, inspect the name after the final dot. Confirm that the extension is the type of file you expect.
- Open Default apps. Go to Settings > Apps > Default apps.
- Find the extension. Locate the affected file extension in the settings and select an installed app that supports it.
- Test the file again. Open the file and check whether Windows still asks you to pick an app.
Defaults are associated with file types. Setting an app for one extension may not change the default for a related extension, so repeat the check for each type that still prompts.
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If the prompt returns, choose the next step by scope
| Approach | Scope | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Change the affected extension in Default apps | The specific file type you select | Start here to make a targeted change and see whether that resolves the prompt. |
| Reset defaults, then reassign the extension | Broader: resetting can change other default-app choices | Consider it if the association seems broken and a targeted reassignment has not helped. |
A Microsoft Q&A answer suggests using the Default apps reset control to restore Microsoft-recommended defaults, then checking and reassigning the affected extension. Because this resets more than one association, note that other default-app choices may change. The guidance does not show that resetting always resolves recurring prompts.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check if neither change works
- Record the Windows version and the exact file extension.
- Note which app you selected and whether it supports that file type.
- Check whether the prompt appears only when you open the file or appears on its own.
- Confirm whether the issue affects one extension or several.
These details help describe the problem accurately if you seek further support. The cited community guidance does not establish a universal cause or verified registry repair for prompts that persist. Registry edits are not a routine first step for this issue.
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