Windows cannot find

Reset the default app for one affected file type first; if files then open normally, repeat the association for the other affected extensions.

1. Test and repair a file association

1. Right-click an affected file and select Properties.
2. On the General tab, note the extension shown beside Type of file, such as .jpg, .pdf, or .docx.
3. Beside Opens with, select Change.
4. Choose the appropriate installed app, select Always, and try the file again. Microsoft documents this procedure for Windows 11 file-association problems.^1^

Alternatively, go to Start > Settings > Apps > Default apps, enter the extension in the search box, select it, and assign an app.^2^

Test several different types—for example, a photo, PDF, and text document:

• Only one type fails: its default-app association was likely the issue.
• Every type still fails, but files open from inside their apps: associations or Windows shell components remain affected.
• Files do not open even from inside their apps: continue with system repair below.

2. Repair Windows components

Open Start, type Command Prompt, right-click it, and select Run as administrator. Run DISM first and SFC second:

DISM.exe /Online /Cleanup-image /Restorehealth
sfc /scannow

Wait for DISM to report that the operation completed successfully before running SFC, and do not close the window until SFC reaches 100%.^3^

Restart Windows afterward and test the same files again.

3. If all file types still produce the error

Use Windows 11’s non-destructive repair installation:

1. Back up important files as a precaution.
2. Connect the PC to power and the internet.
3. Open Start > Settings > System > Recovery.
4. Under Fix problems using Windows Update, select Reinstall now.
5. Select OK, allow the repair to finish, and restart.

This reinstalls the current Windows version, repairs system files and components, and preserves installed apps, personal files, and settings.^4^

If Reinstall now is absent, it can be unavailable on managed work/school PCs, Windows 11 versions earlier than the 2022 annual update, or systems without the February 2024 optional update or later. In that case, install available updates first; for a managed PC, contact its administrator.^4^

References

1. Troubleshoot opening a blank screen when you double-click a file icon or file name in Excel
2. Change Default Apps in Windows | Microsoft Support
3. Use the System File Checker tool to repair missing or corrupted system files | Microsoft Support
4. Fix issues by reinstalling the current version of Windows | Microsoft Support