Need to use third-party programs to open files on your PC? Here's how to change file associations in Windows 10 and choose which apps open which file types.

Windows makes it easy for you to open up these files by setting up default programs for each file type -- images files, for example, will open by default in the Windows 10 Photos app.

The Windows 10 File Explorer offers a handy tool called Preview Pane. Though this feature, you can preview many different types of files without having to open them in their associated applications.

You can add a new file type to the New item section of the Windows 10 Context Menu, but you will have to edit the Windows Registry. Here is how you do it.

Learn how to disable or enable Preview Pane in File Explorer. Using Preview pane in Windows 11/10 File Explorer, you can preview a file without opening it.