Ability to set multiple default file types in Windows 11

[EDIflyer]

Description of the new feature / enhancement

Allow the user to set an app to be the default for multiple file types at once

Scenario when this would be used?

As an example - install VLC and want it to take over being the default media player for all the different file types it supports. At present in Windows 11 you would need to click on every single file extension (of which there are a huge number!) and set it to VLC. In previous versions of Windows you could just set the app to be default for all the extensions it supports - this would be a great PowerToy to return that functionality.

Supporting information

Easy for Windows 10 or Mac - https://www.hellotech.com/guide/for/how-to-make-vlc-default-player-windows-10-mac

Example for web browsers - https://www.theverge.com/22630319/microsoft-windows-11-default-browser-changes

[stefansjfw]

In Windows 11 you can enter a file type here:

Does that help?

/needinfo

[EDIflyer]

Unfortunately not as there are so many file types supported by some apps (eg VLC, web browsers). Previously versions let the app set itself as default for the file types it supported so you didn't have to do each one individually. It's a massive pain how it is now.

[stefansjfw]

yes, but it looks like you can type in a file type (not extension), like "video", and select MSWINDOWSVIDEO (default for this file type is Movies & Tv):

Maybe if you set VLC here it would cover all the video file types? I didn't try it, I don't have VLS installed. /needinfo

[EDIflyer]

@stefansjfw thanks for the reply - sorry been away for a few days.

I tried this out as it looked promising but unfortunately it doesn't seem to help. After you click on the 'external' icon you get a pop-up which only seems to offer Movies & TV (even though VLC is installed) and doesn't let you pick an application on your PC, only open Windows Store and even there it only offers you one option (the existing one!)

Entering video and picking MSWINDOWSVIDEO:

If you click through to the Store:

[guzelonur]

Second this. It is extremely annoying not to have an ability of "batch" file type association, like: all image types or all video types in Windows 11, unlike in Windows 10. Won't it be implemented?

[TheDreamFactoryNZ]

This is absolutely ridiculous. The original dialogue within control panel let you bulk select ALL extensions and then press okay - not do every extension one by one like how it is now.