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Forum Discussion
Solved
When opening a file in Windows 11, there is no other option than 'this time only'
Integration Affected
office
Device
hp laptop
Operating System/Browser (if using the web)
Windows 11
Question or Issue
everytime I open a file i get asked to select which program to open it with even if I have a program that is already associated with that file type (.DOC to Office Word). What makes the situation unbearable is that the only option I can select is use this program "this time only" so everytime I need to go through this again.
Hey there ariele85
I've looked a bit more into this issue and the behavior you’re seeing is related to how Windows 11 manages default apps. When Windows doesn’t have a default program saved for a file type, it may only show the “this time only” option.
You can fix this by setting the default app directly in Windows Settings:
- Open Settings
- Select Apps
- Choose Default apps
- Search for the app you want to use
- Assign it as the default for the relevant file type (for example .doc)
Once you set the default here, your files should open with the correct program every time. Try that out and see how it works for you.
7 Replies
- Jay
Dropbox Community Moderator
Hi ariele85, thanks for messaging the Community!
Is this a prompt you're seeing from Windows itself? Are you not able to set the default from within the Windows settings?
Does this only occur when you're opening files from within the Dropbox folder?
Any other info or screenshots would be helpful!
it's a prompt from Dropbox lite.
The defaults are set in windows 11 settings.
It only occurs when I'm opening files from within the Dropbox folder.
it says above:
select an app to open this .docx file
and below:
this time only
above it says: select an app to open this .docx file
below it says: this time only
- Dell_Dropbox
Community Manager
Hey there ariele85
I've looked a bit more into this issue and the behavior you’re seeing is related to how Windows 11 manages default apps. When Windows doesn’t have a default program saved for a file type, it may only show the “this time only” option.
You can fix this by setting the default app directly in Windows Settings:
- Open Settings
- Select Apps
- Choose Default apps
- Search for the app you want to use
- Assign it as the default for the relevant file type (for example .doc)
Once you set the default here, your files should open with the correct program every time. Try that out and see how it works for you.
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