How can I associate html/htm files with Chrome in Windows 7 64 bit?

windows-7 google-chrome file-association

18,802

Some of the settings may have changed after you installed Chrome and set it as the default browser (for example, some other program may have registered itself as the handler for HTML files).

Unfortunately, Chrome’s make default browser function is disabled because it thinks it already is the default browser because it only checks one or two of the various relate settings.

You can work around this by using another browser’s make default browser function, followed by Chrome’s make default browser function. That should allow Chrome to re-register itself as the handler for .htm* files.

You can do it with IE since it comes with Windows, but you have Firefox, so you can use that.

18,802

matt

Updated on September 18, 2022

Comments

matt almost 2 years

I want Chrome to open all .html files. It is currently set as my default browser, however html files open in IE9. When I go to Control Panel\Programs\Default Programs\Set Associations I see that .html and .htm files are associated with IE. When I choose to change the default program it I'm presented with a list of programs but Chrome is not one of them. I browse to, and then select the Chrome.exe (C:\Users\Matt\AppData\Local\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe) but it goes right back to IE. This is the first time I've seen anything like this. I'm running Windows 7 64 bit. I never had this problem on Windows 7 32 bit.

Is this because Chrome by default installs in the User directory, not the Program Files directory?

How can I fix these file associations?

EDIT: It's not that things are reverting back to IE after associating them with Chrome. When I browse to Chrome in the file association window, and select it, it doesn't seem to take. It doesn't show Chrome in the list of programs despite pointing to the Chrome.exe location. I really think this has something to do with the fact that it doesn't install into the Program File Directory.
- Nick Josevski almost 12 years
  
  Can you try installing FireFox and seeing if you can make it the default browser to open HTML files, this will help rule out if it's just specific to Chrome or specific to IE restoring the association?
- Synetech almost 12 years
  
  Did you try registering Chrome as the default browser using Chrome itself? It should register itself as the default handler for those files.
- kreemoweet almost 12 years
  
  How are you determining that Chrome is set to be your default browser? Just becuse Chrome says so doesn't make it true. There are Registry entries that must be made - is anything preventing that, for instance antimalware apps, environment freezers, etc.?
- matt almost 12 years
  
  @NickJosevski Firefox is already installed and it does give me the option to associate html files with Firefox.
- matt almost 12 years
  
  @kreemoweet I chose to make it the default browser when prompted to by Chrome. It is also listed as the default browser in the windows Default Programs list under browser. It just isn't the default, or even an option under the file associations section.
Darius almost 12 years

I believe OP already did and that did not work for him. The changes were somehow reverted.
Nick Josevski almost 12 years

Cheers Darius :)
matt almost 12 years

As I said, it already is.
matt almost 12 years

I haven't tried reinstalling Chrome yet. I'll do it tomorrow.
Nicole Hamilton almost 12 years

You said you chose to make it the default during the installation and by various other means. If you also tried doing it through the wrench icon and settings, I don't see where you said that.