--- description: In this article, we intend to show you 3 ways to set Word as the default program associated with your word document. title: 3 Ways to Set Word as the Default Program Associated with Your Word Document image: https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Wrong-icon-for-Word-Document.jpg --- - - - [Home](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/) > [Solutions](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/category/solutions/) > [Office Solutions](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/category/solutions/office-solutions/) > [Word Solutions](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/category/solutions/office-solutions/word-solutions/) > 3 Ways to Set Word as the Default Program Associated with Your Word Document # 3 Ways to Set Word as the Default Program Associated with Your Word Document [Word Solutions](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/category/solutions/office-solutions/word-solutions/) September 28, 2025 Share Now: - - - - - - - - *In this article, we intend to show you 3 ways to set Word as the default program associated with your word document.* Sometimes, some of you may find your Word document is associated with wrong program or even without one. Consequently, your files may take the wrong program icon. And what’s worse is you can’t make it right even after connecting the file to the right program.![Wrong icon for Word Document](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Wrong-icon-for-Word-Document.jpg "Wrong icon for Word Document") To help you overcome such problem, we will offer you 3 ways in the following text. These methods will be targeted to Word 2010 under Windows 7 environment. ## Method 1: Associate Files with Right Program 1. Firstly, right click on the Word file to be associated to right program and choose “Open with” on the menu. 2. Then click “Choose default program” on the expand menu.![Choose "Open with" ->Click "Choose default program"](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/wp-content/uploads/2017/01/Choose-Open-with-then-Clcik-Choose-default-program.jpg "Choose \"Open with\" ->Click \"Choose default program\"") 3. Go to select the correct program. If it’s not there, you can click “Browse” button to open the “Open with…” window. 4. In the window, follow the path: ``` C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\WINWORD.EXE ``` And find and select “WINWORD.EXE” and click “Open”.!["Open with..." Window](<> "\"Open with...\" Window") 5. Then go back to the “Open with” dialog box, check the “Always use the selected program to open this kind of file” box. 6. Lastly, click “OK”.![Choose the Default Program ->Check to Always Use This Program ->Click "OK"](<> "Choose the Default Program ->Check to Always Use This Program ->Click \"OK\"")![Word Files with Correct Program Icon](<> "Word Files with Correct Program Icon") ## Method 2: Change a Type of File to Open with the Same Program 1. To start with, click “Start”. 2. Next click “Control Panel”.![Click "Start" ->Click "Control Panel"](<> "Click \"Start\" ->Click \"Control Panel\"") 3. Then click “Programs”. 4. Under “Default Program”, click “Make a file type always open in a specific program”.![Click "make a file type always open in a specific program"](<> "Click \"make a file type always open in a specific program\"") 5. Next, in the new window open, find and select the “.docx” file and click “Change program…” button on the upper-right.![Select .docx File ->Click "Change program..."](<> "Select .docx File ->Click \"Change program...\"") 6. Now repeat from step 3 to 6 in method 1. 7. After this, you will see the default program for “.docx” file changes. Close the Window.![The Default Program Changes](<> "The Default Program Changes") ## Method 3: Modify Registry In case both 2 methods above fail your expectation, you can always try the third way out. 1. First and foremost, press “Win+ R” to trigger the “Run” window. 2. Then enter “regedit” in the text box and click “OK”.![Enter "regedit" ->Click "OK"](<> "Enter \"regedit\" ->Click \"OK\"") 3. Now in the “User Account Control” window open, click “Yes” to confirm the operation. 4. Then go to the path of “**HKEY\_CLASSES\_ROOT**”, click “.doc” folder. 5. Next on the right side, make sure the default data is “**Document.8**”. If not, double click the “(Default)” to change.![Ensure the Default Value Data for .doc Files](<> "Ensure the Default Value Data for .doc Files") 6. Similarly, go to the path of “**HKEY\_CLASSES\_ROOT**”, click “.docx” folder. 7. Then on the right side, make sure the default data is “**Document.12**”. And if not, double click the “(Default)” to change.![Ensure the Value Data for .docx Folder](<> "Ensure the Value Data for .docx Folder") 8. Next, visit the path: ``` HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Word.Document.8\shell\Open\command ``` And make sure the default value is: ``` "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\WINWORD.EXE" "%1" ``` ![Double Click the Default ->Change the Value data ->Click "OK"](<> "Double Click the Default ->Change the Value data ->Click \"OK\"") Between the path and “%1” should be a space. Sometimes, a “/n” is considered right too. 9. Then visit: ``` HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Word.Document.12\shell\Open\command ``` And make sure the default value is: ``` "C:\Program Files\Microsoft Office\Office14\WINWORD.EXE" "%1" ``` ![Make Sure the Value Data for String](<> "Make Sure the Value Data for String") Between the path and “%1” should be a space. Sometimes, a “/n” is considered right too. Generally, after some editing work on registry, you should have the correct default program for Word documents. ## Secure Your Word Documents Generally, we can open Word document in many different programs. However, sometimes when it’s not displayed in Word icon, it means your files are possibly compromised. Under such circumstances, a [damaged Word file repair tool](https://www.datanumen.com/word-repair/) is what you will need. ## Author Introduction: Vera Chen is a data recovery expert in DataNumen, Inc., which is the world leader in data recovery technologies, including [xls data error repair](https://www.datanumen.com/excel-repair/) and pdf repair software products. For more information visit [www.datanumen.com](https://www.datanumen.com/) Share Now: - - - - - - - - [← Previous post](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/3-solutions-to-the-problem-that-embedded-object-icons-are-not-displayed-in-your-word-document/) [Next post →](https://www.datanumen.com/blogs/2-effective-methods-to-extract-numbers-from-your-excel-cells/) Comments are closed. ![Data Recovery Blog]() Follow or like us on Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter to get all promotions, latest news and updates on our products and company. - - - ### Featured Products - [DataNumen Outlook Repair](https://www.datanumen.com/outlook-repair/) - [DataNumen SQL Recovery](https://www.datanumen.com/sql-recovery/) - [DataNumen Exchange Recovery](https://www.datanumen.com/exchange-recovery/) - [DataNumen Access Repair](https://www.datanumen.com/access-repair/) - [DataNumen Excel Repair](https://www.datanumen.com/excel-repair/) - [DataNumen PDF Repair](https://www.datanumen.com/pdf-repair/) - [DataNumen Word 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