How do you associate the .exe file extension with a program in Windows?

As an IT Administrator, it is important to understand how to associate executable (.exe) files with a program in Windows in order to ensure the proper functioning of applications. In this article, we will discuss the procedure for associating the .exe file extension with a program in Windows.

The first step in associating the .exe file extension with a program is to locate the executable file. This can be done by navigating to the folder where the executable file is located. Once the file has been located, right-click on it and select “Open With” from the context menu. This will open a window that displays a list of programs that can be used to open the file.

From the list of programs, select the one that you want to be associated with the .exe file extension. Once the program has been selected, check the box next to “Always use this program to open this type of file.” This will make sure that the program is always used when opening .exe files.

Once the association has been made, the program will automatically open the .exe file whenever it is clicked. If the program is not the desired one, it can be changed by right-clicking on the file and selecting “Open With” again.

It is also possible to associate the .exe file extension with a program using the Windows Registry. To do this, open the Registry Editor (regedit.exe). Then navigate to the following path:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\\exefile\\shell\\open\\command

Once the path has been selected, double-click on the “(Default)” value on the right side of the window. This will open a window where you can edit the command line. This should look something like this:

\C:\\Program Files\\ProgramName\\programname.exe\ \%1\

The “C:\\Program Files\\ProgramName\\programname.exe” portion of the command line should be replaced with the path to the program that you want to associate with the .exe file extension. Once this has been done, click “OK” to save the changes.

It is also possible to associate the .exe file extension with a program using the Windows Control Panel. To do this, open the Control Panel and select “Default Programs.” This will open a window where you can select the program that you want to be associated with the .exe file extension. Once the program has been selected, click “Set this program as default” and then click “OK” to save the changes.

In conclusion, it is important for IT Administrators to understand how to associate the .exe file extension with a program in Windows. This process can be done using the Open With command, the Windows Registry, or the Windows Control Panel. Once the association has been made, the program will automatically open the .exe file whenever it is clicked.