How to remove file association in windows 8?

05
2014-04
  • Chesnokov Yuriy

    I have Chrome associated with .xlsx file on windows 8.1 machine

    In Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Associations it is not possible to remove association only to change it to another program.

    In Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Default Programs\Set Program Associations , .xlsx is not present in Chrome.

    I removed all keys from HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.xlsx

    Still Chrome remains associated with that extension in Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Associations, Windows Explorer shows the Chrome icon with the .xlsx file.

    • Answers
  • Saurabh Sharma

    Apart from above solutions I have a different but working solution.

    Create a Blank file with your extension Lets say <filename>.blaw

     1. Open Notepad
 2. File>Save As
 3. Give a name with your Extension.
 4. And Save it on your Desktop (You can also save it at any other
    location).

    Now right click your file (*.xlsx in this case) and Select Open with > Choose Default Program > Scroll down and select Browse for an App on this PC.

    Now browse to filename.blaw and select it.

    When your *.xlsx file is associated with <filename>.blaw All you need to do is to delete the <filename>.blaw Now It'll force any *.xlsx file to make a file association again, and you can choose app from which you want to open your file, or leave it as it is.

    And this solution Certainly works!

  • Knuckle-Dragger

    I think you missed the other SystemFileAssociations xlsx list in HKCR.

    Windows Registry Editor Version 5.00

[-HKEY_CLASSES_ROOTS\SystemFileAssociations\.xlsx]
[-HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\.xlsx]

    To be sure everything is good, next go here and check the default setting on xlsx, usually it will point to another key in HKCR or sometimes have a long GUID referencing a persistent handler. 

    HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.xlsx

    Either way we need to then jump to HKCR\xslx_auto_file or search for the GUID of the persistent handler and make sure everything looks chrome free.


    • Related Question

    windows 7 - How to delete a file association?
  • Nam G. VU

    This question already has an answer here:


    • Related Answers
  • Indrek

    1. Open an elevated command prompt with admistrator privileges.

    2. Remove the file extension association from its assigned file. Type in the following command and press Enter:

      assoc .ext=

      Replace .ext with the extension name that needs to be disassociated. For example, to disassociate WinRAR's .rar extension, simply type: assoc .rar =

      Note that after disassociation of file extension from file type, the default program for the file type will no longer be shown in the "Open With" list for the file extension.

    3. Clear and delete the default program used for the Open command when launching files of this type. Enter the following command and press Enter:

      ftype FileType=

      Replace "FileType" with the actual name for the file type associated to the file extension to be removed from the system. For example, for WinRAR, type ftype WinRAR=

      Note that if you don't know the correct "FileType", simply type assoc (associated file type will be shown after the extension) or ftype to get a listing of all file types defined in the system.