How to assign MP3 files to Everything?

[abr01]

When i click on an MP3 file in Everything, an "open with" dialog comes up, with several suggestions from Windows.
But it seems to be broken from Windows´ side. AIMP shows up several times, but no "always open with" option available, and using "once" also doesn't work.

Maybe there is a way to point directly to the EXE file, which isn't in a standard path? Sometimes it would come in very handy, if i could play sound files directly from Everything, instead Ctrl-Entering to the respective locations and play it from there.

[void]

Does the same issue occur when opening an mp3 file from Windows Explorer?

Please make sure Everything is not running as administrator.
Please make sure Everything is installed correctly and running as a standard user:

• In Everything, from the Tools menu, click Options.
• Click the General tab on the left.
• Check Store settings and data in %APPDATA%\Everything.
• Uncheck Run as administrator.
• Check Everything Service. (Please make sure this is tick-checked and not square-checked)
• Click OK.
• Exit Everything (from the File menu, click Exit).
• Restart Everything.

Please make sure you are using the x64 version of Everything (Help -> About Everything -> Version)

Does the issue persist?

[abr01]

Yes, you're right, it also happens in Windows Explorer. Which surprises me. Because in Directory Opus it works flawlessly. Strange.
As for Everything, i'm not running it as an admin, and the service is running. Everything runs smooth for a very long time, no issues elsewhere.
I have to investigate further. Thanks!

[Herkules97]

When i click on an MP3 file in Everything, an "open with" dialog comes up, with several suggestions from Windows.
But it seems to be broken from Windows´ side. AIMP shows up several times, but no "always open with" option available, and using "once" also doesn't work.

Maybe there is a way to point directly to the EXE file, which isn't in a standard path? Sometimes it would come in very handy, if i could play sound files directly from Everything, instead Ctrl-Entering to the respective locations and play it from there.

It's broken to the point you can't assign file associations? Since 10 those can be found in the Settings program. Issue with those is that the correct programs may not show up. Hell it might be empty. But in my case the issue is likely because I don't "install" programs, at least not media programs. They're all "portable".
Is this on Windows 11? I sometimes lack an option for always open with on Windows 10. Maybe they plugged it in Windows 11 and now it doesn't show up at all? Idk how much they're pushing stupid UWP programs on 11.
If it's W10 maybe it's not broken, but intended by MicroSoft. I could be wrong but aren't file associations in the registry? Could be a path to explore.
Alternatively if your program has associations settings, you could open it and tell it to associate.

You can also open file properties for a specific file, get to the bottom and say another app on the PC, open the file with the correct program and maybe if you do that enough, or even just once, Windows will now recognise that program even if it's portable. Then maybe you can go to the file associations within Settings app and set it there permanently.

Quick search led me to these:
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/troub ... -extension
https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/previ ... dfrom=MSDN

[abr01]

My AIMP is indeed portable. I had a look into Regedit, admin mode, but couldn't find any suspicious looking setting. But my "open with" dialog shows AIMP about three times, all of them being dysfunctional.

[horst.epp]

You can use "Custom_open_commands" in Everything.
An unnamed entry will be executed when you enter or double-click a mp3 file.

Screenshot - 01.04.2026 , 17_51_33.png (35.25 KiB) Viewed 2209 times

[abr01]

Interesting. But what would be the whole command here, so i could try that?

[Herkules97]

My AIMP is indeed portable. I had a look into Regedit, admin mode, but couldn't find any suspicious looking setting. But my "open with" dialog shows AIMP about three times, all of them being dysfunctional.

I've posted a few possible solutions, surely one of them will work.

For the registry one, you may have to create the entries yourself.
I presume you can just use an existing entry for a how-to on making a new one.
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications
The article doesn't state whether you can make new entries yourself. I don't want to try it myself, I doubt anything will break, but I will try this stuff if I ever come across a similar issue.

While writing this, a new reply was made by .epp. It seems more convenient to fix associations on Windows' side than only for EBV.
But maybe your install is proper broken and can't have new file assocations.

[abr01]

Hercules97, i recently had a look in this part of Regedit, and even tried something, but couldn't get a decent result. Maybe i will try horst.epp's approach then, since it works in Directory Opus , and i don't need it also to work in old Explorer.

[horst.epp]

Interesting. But what would be the whole command here, so i could try that?

Looks like this.
Ignore my named entries for the context menu
and add an unnamed entry for mp3.
In my example using the Windows Media Player

Screenshot - 01.04.2026 , 18_32_28.png (70.54 KiB) Viewed 2157 times

______________________________________________________
Windows 11 Home Version 25H2 (OS Build 26200.8117)
Everything 1.5.0.1407a (x64), Everything Toolbar 2.3.0

[abr01]

Where is "edit table"? I can't find it here.

[tuska]

Where is "edit table"? I can't find it here.

Please see the picture by horst.epp above:
Options - 1.5.0.1407a (x64) > Advanced > custom_open_commands > ...
 

2026-04-01_custom_open_commands_Button 'Edit...'.png (7.33 KiB) Viewed 2131 times

[abr01]

My version is different, No edit button here.

image.png (132.26 KiB) Viewed 2127 times

[tuska]

My version is different, No edit button here.

Please update to Everything-1.5.0.1407a.

[abr01]

That is actually my current version. That's strange.

[err_24546]

It's not strange. You're looking in the wrong place (custom_open_command01). The Edit Table is for custom_open_commands.

[abr01]

You're right, i overlooked that one. But the issue is still stubborn, the open with window still keeps coming up. Maybe i should consider a regular install on C: again. Thanks.

[Herkules97]

You're right, i overlooked that one. But the issue is still stubborn, the open with window still keeps coming up. Maybe i should consider a regular install on C: again. Thanks.

It's still unlikely you can't fix the issue. It doesn't read like your Windows is broken at all.
If you have 3 AIMPs I imagine you have 3 entries either in HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\aimp.exe\shell\open\command (Add computer\ or equivalent before HKEY, or just navigate there. If I used computer it doesn't work, I have to put in the Swedish version so dator\. Do not presume the path doesn't exist because the exact path I've given you doesn't do anything. You should put in some effort yourself.)
or like HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\aimp1.exe
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\aimp2.exe
HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\Applications\aimp3.exe

If you have 3 entries of AIMP, all you should have to do is edit one of them and remove the other 2. Point the one you kept to the correct spot.
If you haven't done this, what did you do in regedit...You may have to restart after the change, either only explorer.exe or the entire system.
Idk about EBV, maybe you have to restart that instance too.

Installing may add a fourth entry and it should work. Another possible solution, though it seems unnecessary over fixing broken paths.

This is just one of the possible solutions, it doesn't have to work but it should by the looks of it.
I think there were 2 other possible solutions I posted, or just 2 links for the same solution, though those you'll have to research yourself.

[abr01]

Here's what i see in Regedit, user mode (non-admin). I don't find multiple instances of AIMP here, nor do i in Regedit/admin mode. The S: path should be correct.

image.png (22.84 KiB) Viewed 2063 times

[Herkules97]

Here's what i see in Regedit, user mode (non-admin). I don't find multiple instances of AIMP here, nor do i in Regedit/admin mode. The S: path should be correct.

image.png

Should be? You do not know where aimp is?
Also only one entry, but 3 in open-with? There is an aimp.url there, Idk if that acts a second one and the third one is below that?

Anyway I was writing another reply to add on to my original.
Might also be something to look into.

I have an older registry export and the program I used was mpc-hc to check.
I've found these paths also contains the same structure, but I imagine the root one will replace these
[HKEY_USERS\[your ID]\SOFTWARE\Classes\Applications\mpc-hc.exe\shell\open\command]
[HKEY_USERS\[your ID]_Classes\Applications\mpc-hc.exe\shell\open\command]

I used my mpc-hc path in the registry combined with exports of all but the root key and then the root key alone because apparently it doesn't export alongside the other keys when right-clicking "Computer" to export.
This is a path to what I think is a file extension for .au, a file type used by at least Audacity IIRC.
[HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\mplayerc.au\shell\open\command]
I don't know if mplayerc refers to mpc-hc or if that is what Windows uses to refer to a filetype of .au
Here are some other ones. Though I think only the last 2 are relevant for opening. Mayhaps it is better if you were to install the program and find out if that works. It may very well be that your Windows is broken, it just doesn't read as such. It would've been easier to tell if those 3 entries were in the registry and just had broken paths. But if the paths aren't broken then maybe something else is amiss.
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mplayerc.au]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mplayerc.au\DefaultIcon]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mplayerc.au\shell]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mplayerc.au\shell\enqueue]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mplayerc.au\shell\enqueue\command]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mplayerc.au\shell\open]
[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Classes\mplayerc.au\shell\open\command]

I do wonder..You said "only once" doesn't work..But the issue can be that because they all have the same names, they might get shuffled on each open-with attempt. So maybe when you tried all 3, you actually tried one of them more than once? Finding out where those 3 entries lie so you can get rid of 2 and experiment on only one should help. Again I am presuming you get an open-with dialog with 3 AIMP identical names. I've had that with MPC-HC and with some file association re-running from MPC-HC itself I managed to get rid of the other one I think.
If I didn't have that, I would be trying something like the above to modify. I wouldn't install the program as that would just add more junk in the registry.

It seems most convenient to getting the program visible to Windows, THEN using default program or by file types assigning aimp to them. It's that getting it detected that is the issue. I don't use AIMP so Idk if it has file assocations within it? Most filetypes I have are with programs that have file associations built-in so you just use those to tell Windows. IrfanView and MPC-HC at least. Notepad++ might not, but I think Windows knows about the program. Maybe it can still detect them as long as you run them once? I don't remember.

Your screenshot of the registry looks odd, so maybe it's Windows 11? It's entirely possible I am out of my depth as I've never used 11. It just seems to make things harder to fix or deal with.

[abr01]

Well, saying should be was just a phrase. It actually is, of course, the correct path. Windows 11 here, that's also correct. Anyway, i have reassigned the standard app now, and it works now, but oddly open up VLC now. Which, for my use cases here, is ok so far. I have also looked into the .url yo have mentioned, but there are no values specified yet. As for your Regedit list, yeah, i will have a look later, i'm a bit busy at the moment. I will look for those multiple entries. Thank you.

[Herkules97]

Well, saying should be was just a phrase. It actually is, of course, the correct path. Windows 11 here, that also correct. Anyway, i have reassigned the standard app now, and it works now, but oddly open up VLC now. Which, for my use cases here, is ok so far. I have also looked into the .url yo have mentioned, but there are no values specified yet. As for your Regedit list, yeah, i will have a look later, i'm a bit busy at the moment. I will look for those multiple entries. Thank you.

Windows 11 seems like a half-working OS as-is. As if MicroSoft designed it to be busted. Either that or maybe it was a rushed job.
Maybe they will have fixed most of the issues 11 started with 12 if that ever comes.

I thought it didn't detect your program, but if it does you could probably go into filetypes in Settings app and alter the few ones you want to open with AIMP if they're set to VLC. It's a lot of scrolling perhaps, but after they're set they should stick? At least if you don't update. I've heard updates can undo customisations.

[abr01]

I will keep looking after AIMP, yes. Strangely enough, we also have issues on another machine with AIMP, although different ones. As for Windows, yeah, they have their problems too, constantly. But my work here requires Windows, so that's got to be alright.