How to Add and Remove the "Open With" Menu Option

The "Open With" menu in Windows is a convenient way to select an application for opening specific file types. Sometimes, you may want to customize this list by adding or removing items. Below are simple instructions on how to manage this menu option.

Adding an Application to the "Open With" Menu

  1. Open File Explorer: Locate the file you want to open with a specific application.
  2. Select "Open With": Right-click on the file, choose "Open with", and then select "Choose another app".
  3. Find the Application: In the pop-up window, select the application you want to use. If it’s not listed, click on "Look for another app on this PC" and navigate to the executable file of the desired program.
  4. Set as Default (Optional): Check "Always use this app to open .[file type]" if you want to save it in the "Open with" menu for this file type.

The selected application will now appear in the "Open With" menu for this file type.

Removing an Application from the "Open With" Menu

To remove an application from the menu, you’ll need to modify the Windows Registry slightly. Be cautious with registry changes, as incorrect edits may affect system performance. It's advisable to back up the registry before proceeding.

  1. Open the Registry Editor: Press Win + R, type regedit, and press Enter.
  2. Navigate to the Correct Registry Key: Use the following path:
    HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts\[.file_extension]\OpenWithList
  3. Find the Application: In the OpenWithList section, look for entries related to the application you want to remove.
  4. Delete the Entry: Right-click the application entry and choose Delete.
  5. Restart Your System: To apply the changes, it’s recommended to restart your computer.

After these steps, the removed application will no longer appear in the "Open With" list for the specified file type.