When you open a file in Windows, it will usually open in the default application for that type of file. For example, a photo will open in Windows Photo Viewer (or the Photos application in Windows 8) by default. But you may not always want this. In this lesson, we’ll show you how to open a file in a different application, as well as how to change the default application so a file will always open in your preferred program.
v If you’re using Windows 8, fill will usually
open in a Start screen application,
even if you opened it from the desktop.
If you prefer to work in the desktop, you can choose to open the file with a desktop application. For example, a jpeg picture in Windows 8 will open in Photos application by default, but you can open it on the desktop
in Windows Photo Viewer instead.
Opening a file
in the default application
As you
learned in our lesson on Working
with Files and Folders, you can locate and double-click a file to open it. It will open in the default application for that type of
file.
To open a file
in a different application:
Sometimes you
may want to open a file in a different application without changing the default. For example, you may want to open a
photo with Microsoft Paint to crop
or resize it.
1.
Form the desktop, right-click
the desired file.
2.
Form the drop-down menu, click Open
with, then select the desired application.
In this example, we’ll select Paint.
3.
The file will open in the selected application.
To change the
default application:
You may
prefer to change the default application
for certain types of files so they’ll always
open in the new app when you double-click them. For example, you may want
your photos to open always open in Window
Photo Viewer instead of the Photos
application.
1.
Form the desktop, right-click
the desired file, select Open with,
and click Choose another app form
the menu that appears.
2.
Select the desired application.
If you don’t see the one you want, click More
apps or Look for an app in the Store
to look for other applications. In this example, we want to open a file in Windows Photo Viewer. Then check off Always use this app to open .jpeg files
and click OK.
3.
The file will open in the new application. The next time you double-click
a file of that type, it will open in the new default application.
