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How can I edit the "Open With" list in Windows 10? I've tried looking this up, but none of the recommended registry edits I've tried actually work. I've also seen third-party apps promoted *cough* mentioned, but I'm suspicious and would not rather not use them if I can do it myself.

So, right now my "Open With" list for .AVI files looks like this:



Obviously, I want to remove Movies & TV and Photos from the list.

I would also like to add VirtualDub to the main list so I don't always have to click "Choose another app."



I tried making VirtualDub the default app, and then switching it back to KMPlayer, hoping VirtualDub would stay on the main list, but no joy.

bthylafh wrote:

https://www.howtogeek.com/howto/18119/remove-programs-from-open-with-menu-in-explorer/

Yep, that was the first one I tried. No joy.



As you can see, I already deleted a, b, c, and f. (Some of them were just gobbledygook, like whatever the value for "MRUList" is supposed to mean.) There was no apparent change to the Open With list. (Curiously, Windows didn't reset the letter values for the remaining keys to a, b, c, etc, after I rebooted.)

Sounds like more of Windows 10's general ****.

You might want to try something like Default Programs Editor.

Yeah, I should have tried that before I posted. :/ Maybe this is something Microsoft "broke" with a newer build of Windows 10?

For example, my entries for .avi are:


but actually right-clicking an AVI file shows the following entries in the "open with" menu:
IrfanView
MPC-HC
Photos
VLC Media Player
Windows Media Player

jihadjoe wrote:

You might want to try something like Default Programs Editor.

Yep, saw that, too, which is why...

camel wrote:

I've also seen third-party apps promoted *cough* mentioned, but I'm suspicious and would not rather not use them if I can do it myself.

Are you just wanting a single default for .avi files? Just right click one in explorer - properties - Opens with - then set your .exe there.

edit: I mean, honestly, so long as the program you want is in that first list this is a non-issue IMO, but that's just me and I understand the nagging of it. I think SOME of that list is dependent on frequency of usage too. Use an exe more, the more often it shows up in that list. I could be mistaken about that though.

DancinJack wrote:

Are you just wanting a single default for .avi files?

No. I want to delete entries I will never use and add an optional app to the main Open With list.

DancinJack wrote:

I think SOME of that list is dependent on frequency of usage too. Use an exe more, the more often it shows up in that list. I could be mistaken about that though.

The start menu can be set to show apps by usage, but, afaict, the Open With list does not. If it did, I use VirtualDub so often it would be second on the list.

Dang.

I know it's not ideal, but would dragging and dropping work for you? For instance, have a shortcut to VirtualDub on your desktop and drag and drop your files onto it to start the app and queue the file.

I'm just not certain there is any real way to customize that open with list to your liking unfortunately.