Changing file type associations with desired applications in Windows is anything but simple – it’s downright needlessly complicated, if only because the interface is less than ideal. Typically, the association is changed by first locating the desired file type – such as a .mp3, right-clicking and choosing Open With. From here you can then browser to a different application you wish to be opened and then set that as the new default. Perhaps this procedure isn’t horrendous when there is only one change necessary but it doesn’t scale well when many changes are necessary.

Types is a free Windows application written in .NET 2.0 that can be used to quickly change many file type associations through one common interface. Upon launching, Types will initiate an automated scan of all the registered file types in Windows. As there are likely hundreds of items, the scan may take a few minutes to complete.

Navigate until you find the extension that needs to change. Alternatively, you can also use the Classes drop-down though it tends to be more involved to find what you are looking.

Double-click on the chosen extension to launch the configuration dialog.

While Types can changes like the icon used, most of what is interesting about the application resides under the Actions tab. Here you can define, or refine, the context menu available for each file type.

Download Types