When you open a file on your Windows PC but it does not open and displays an error with the message, this file does not have an app associated with it for performing that action. This error arises when Windows can’t find a compatible app for opening that specific file you want to open.

If you want to solve this associated file error prompt, you are in the right place. Here we have shared all the fixes that will help you to sort out this issue on your system.

10 Fixes For This File Does Not Have An App Associated With it

1: Check the App you Install can Open Such Files

Window primarily displays this file does not have an app associated with it error when it fails to get the appropriate App to launch files. That is why users must ensure the accurate App is installed to open the file in this particular format.

Below we have shared the steps to check if the App you installed can open the file.

• First, direct to the file that shows this error when you open it.
• Right-click on that file and tap the properties option from the pop-up menu list.
• After that, the properties dialog box will appear on your screen; here, hover over the general tab.
• Next to the type of file option, find the file format like PDF, JPE, Docx, PNG, etc.
• If you look at an unusual file format, ensure you have installed the right App.

To fix this file does not have an app associated with it error confirm that you have the right App installed on your windows, click on that file > tap open with option > tap on the Choose another app option.

If you have installed a relevant app, a prompt will appear on your screen that states select it to open the file. However, if you don’t get any app suggestions, it means you have no application installed proficiently, open that file type.

2: Install the Right Software for your File Associated with an App

Suppose you want to open a file, but you don’t have the right software installed on your Windows, so this file does not have an app associated with it error will appears on your screen.

For instance;

• Launch the file with the .docx extension; users must install Microsoft Office Word or any other word-processing software to open this file.
• To open the file with the .ai file extension, users must install Adobe Illustrator to open this type of file.

Follow the steps below to install the accurate extension to open your file.

• First, Right, click on the file you want to open.
• Then hit the properties option from the pop-up menu list.
• You will see the type of file option next to the type of file option.
• Copy this file type and search for the programs it can open with.
• After that, download and install that capable software and try to open your file.

NOTE: Keep in mind that don’t use third-party services to download the apps. Must navigate to the official site of the App for security reasons.

3: Set the Default App Association

The error this file does not have an app associated with it error states that if the application is installed, you have to create an association in the default programs. So if you have already installed it, your next step should be to set it as default for files having that file type. When a user sets up the app as default may resolve this error.

Below we have shared how you can set up the default app association error in Windows 11.

• First, press the Windows, and I keys simultaneously to launch the Windows settings.
• After that, tap on the Apps option from the right side panel.
• Then tap on the default apps option; now, you will see all file types the App is registered with.
• Select the app you want to set as default in the following dialog. That’s it.

4: Repair Corrupted System Files

This file does not have an app associated with it error also occurs due to corrupted files. However, it can be fixed by running SFC and DISM scans.

Below we have described the steps you can track to run the SFC scan on your window.

• Press the Windows key to launch the start menu on your Windows; here, search CMD.
• Now the search result will appear on your screen tap on the Run as administrator option.
• After that, type and enter the SFC/scannow command in the command prompt.
• Then the SFC scan process will start running. Wait till the procedure is complete.
• After that, restart your system when the scan is complete.

If this file does not have an app associated with it error still continues, follow these steps to run the DSM scan.

• Tap on the Windows key to open the start menu and search DSM.
• After that, tap on the run as administrator option from the pop-up search result.
• Type and enter DISM/Online/Cleanup-Image/RestoreHealth in the command prompt.
• Then wait till the process finish and then restart your PC.

5: Scan your System with Antivirus Software

Another probable reason for the error this file does not have an app associated with it is virus or malware contamination. You must scan your Windows system with the installed antivirus software to sort out this issue. The in-built security scanner scans your system and detects any malware.

Furthermore, if a user has ant third-party antivirus software, they can also run a system scan with that software. To scan your PC system with antivirus software, launch the settings page > tap update and security option > Windows security > virus and threat protection > tap Quick Scan option > Tap Scan Now option.

6: Run the PowerShell Command on your System

Another solution for this file does not have an app associated with it error is that run the PowerShell command on your Windows PC to reinstall all the universal apps. This process can probably fix the error you have been facing.

Here we have shared the steps you can follow to ruin the PowerShell command.

• Press the Windows key to open the start menu and search for PowerShell.
• Now tap on the Run as an administrator option from the pop-up search result.
• Then type and enter the command Get-AppXPackage -AllUsers |Where-Object{$_.InstallLocation -like “*SystemApps*”} | Foreach {Add-AppxPackage -DisableDevelopmentMode – Register “$($_.InstallLocation)AppXManifest.xml”}
• Wait until the procedure is complete; check if the error is sorted out.

7: Add Account to the Administrator Group

The next fix users can do to resolve this file does not have an app associated with it error is to add your new user account to the administrator group. But if you don’t have administrator privileges, you cannot launch the specific files on your system.

Ample the following steps to add an account to the administrator group to open the file.

• Tap the windows and R keys simultaneously to launch the Run dialog box.
• Here type and enter lusrmgr.msc command to open the local users and group page.
• Now tap on the Groups option from the left side panel to launch more options.
• Then tap the administrator’s option to launch all the administrators on your PC.
• In the administrator dialog box, tap on the Add option.
• After that, a pop-up page will appear on your screen; tap the advanced option.
• Then tap on the find now option from the next pop-up window.
• Choose the account you want to add and tap on the Ok tab.
• After choosing the account, click the OK button to complete the process.
• After that, Restart your Windows PC, open the file, and check if the error still exists.

8: Make Variations to the Registry Settings

If users make some variations to the Registry settings, it will help you to resolve this file does not have an app associated with it error. Follow the steps below to make the registry fluctuations and solve the problem.

NOTE: Keep in mind that save a backup of your registry settings using the software to save data before making any changes to the association registry fix.

• Tap the windows and R keys simultaneously to open the run dialog box.
• Here type and enter regedit to open the registry key editor.
• Type and enter computer\HKEY_Classes_Root\InkFile in the address bar of the registry editor page.
• After that, look for the string value data IsShortcut file in the right side panel.
• Now right-click on IsShortcut and tap the delete option from the pop-up menu list.
• After that, recreate the string file by right-clicking on the blank space of the right panel and tapping on the New option.
• Then select the String value option and rename it to IsShortcut so you don’t have any problems.
• Once completing this process, restart your Windows PC.

NOTE: If the string value is unavailable, right-click on the right-side panel’s blank space and tap NEW option > String value option to create a new string value. After that, rename the string value to IsShotcut that you create and then delete it. Then recreate the string file by using the steps mentioned above.

9: Restore your System

Suppose you are encountering this file does not have an app associated with it error after adding the account to the administrator group and making variations to the registry settings. In that case, you can perform a system restore on your PC and restore it to a time when this error did not occur.

Below we have shared how you can perform a system restore on your system.

• Tap on the window key to open the start menu. Here search for the recovery option.
• Tap on the recovery control panel option from the pop-up options.
• Now a recovery page will appear on your screen; here, tap on the open system restore option.
• After that, tap the Next option and select the restore point related to the app that caused the error.
• Then tap on the Next option to start the restore your system apps.
• Once the process is complete, tap on the finish tab. That is it.

10: Perform In-Place Upgrade

This file does not have an app associated with it error also appears when you perform the in-place upgrade and install the Windows operating system on your PC without removing the older version. However, your data will not be removed if you execute an in-place upgrade. But remember that we recommend you back up all your data performing the in-place upgrade.

Here we have shared the steps to perform the in-place upgrade on your Windows PC.

• In File Explorer, go to the Windows server setup media option.
• Then launch setup.exe the download updates for installation will automatically be started.
• Tap on the next tab, then choose the edition of the Windows server you want to install.
• Now click on the next tab and hit the accept option if you agree with the license terms.
• Then, to do an in-place upgrade, tap on the Keep personal files and apps option.
• Once the analyzing process is complete, the setup will show the ready-to-install screen.
• Now tap on the install to initiate the in-place upgrade on your system.

When the upgrade is complete, your system will restart automatically and then check this error occurs or not.

FAQs

Q: Why does my PC say this file does not have an app associated with it?

If your PC displays this error prompt, it means that the file associated with that file type in your registry file is missing or there is no association.

Q: Where are the default app settings?

Users have to go to the start menu and tap the settings option from the pop-up menu list > Apps > Default apps.

Q: How to change file associations?

Launch the settings page on your system and move to the app’s settings. Here you will see default apps. Click on that. Then select Choose defaults by file type option and select the file program you want to change.

Q: This file does not have an app associated with it error on Steam occurs: what to do?

To sort out the error, tap the start button to launch default programs and then hover over default programs. After that, tap associate a file type or protocol with a program to open the extension list. Now select the extension and then click on the change program button. Then choose the program you want to and tap on the OK tab.