It can be a total waste of time to launch your favorite photo editor before you access JPEG files, or to launch your favorite media player software to open MP3s. To ensure that your files are accessed with the right programs by default, you must adjust their file associations:
- In Control Panel, click Default Programs.
- Select "Associate a file type or protocol with a program". You will see a list of two- to four-letter file extensions (e.x., .jpg, .mp3, .mov, .mp4, .js).
- Scroll through the list of extensions and select the one you want to change.
- Click the Change Program button. A window with a list of possible programs appears.
- Select the program you want to use to open that file type (such as Photoshop for opening JPEG images). If the program you want isn't listed by default, use the Browse button to find it on your hard drive.
- Click OK.
Get more Windows 7 time-saving tips here!
