EXE Files Always Open with Notepad or Other Applications OR Can’t Open EXE Files in Windows

You dont have to do that much. This is easier:

1. Open command prompt

2. Type "assoc .exe=exefile" and press enter.

done.

METHOD A: Using Ready-Made Registry Script

Download following ZIP file, extract it and run the extracted REG file. It'll ask for confirmation, accept it. It should solve the problem.

Download Registry Script

METHOD B: Manually Editing Windows Registry

1. Open Command Prompt by typing command in RUN dialog box.

2. Now provide following command:

cd\windows

3. It'll activate Windows folder. Now provide following command to open Registry Editor:

regedit

NOTE: If you can't open "regedit", press CTRL+ALT+DEL keys and open "Task Manager". Now click on "File" menu and hold down the "CTRL" key and click on "New Task" menu. It'll open a Command Prompt window. Now provide regedit.exe command and press Enter. It'll open registry editor without any problem.

4. Now go to following key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\.exe

In right-side pane, change value of Default key to exefile

5. Now go to:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command

In right-side pane, change value of Default key to:

"%1" %*

6. That's it. Now exit Registry Editor and restart your Windows. Now you should be able to open EXE files without any problem.

METHOD C: Using Microsoft Fixit Tool

Microsoft has also released an automatic Fixit tool to fix this annoying problem. This Fixit tool is based on the same method given above in this tutorial.

You can download it using following link:

Download Fixit Tool