# Setting File Type Associations

When running a Parallels Desktop setup, you may need to assign certain file types in macOS to a certain Windows app, and vice versa. This is done by changing the respective file type associations.

{% hint style="warning" %}
**Notes:**\
1\. This functionality is available only for Windows [with Parallels Tools installed](https://docs.parallels.com/landing/pdfm-ug/v20-en-us/parallels-desktop-for-mac-20-users-guide/advanced-topics/installing-and-updating-parallels-tools/parallels-tools-for-windows).\
2\. This feature is not supported in the App Store edition of Parallels Desktop. For more information on the differences between the Standard and App Store editions, follow this [link](https://kb.parallels.com/123796).
{% endhint %}

### Assigning a macOS File Type to a Windows Application

To make a certain type of macOS files always open in a Windows application, do the following:

1. Right-click a macOS file in Finder, point to **Open with** and click **Other**.
2. Navigate to **Macintosh HD** > **Users** > \<user name> > **Applications (Parallels)** and open the required virtual machine folder.
3. Select a Windows application you want and click **Open**.
4. Parallels Desktop shows a macOS notification asking whether you want to make the application default for this type of files. Click **Make**. Now all files of this type will open in the selected Windows application.

There is an alternative way to achieve the same:

1. Right-click a macOS file and choose **Get Info**.
2. In the **Open with** section, click the **Open with** menu and choose **Other**.
3. Navigate to **Macintosh HD** > **Users** > \<user name> > **Applications (Parallels)** and open the required virtual machine folder.
4. Select a Windows application you want, choose **Always Open With** and click **Add**.
5. Click **Change All** and close the file info menu. Now all files of this type will open in the selected Windows application.

### Assigning a Windows File Type to a macOS Application

For Windows 10 and 11:

To make some type of Windows files always open in a macOS application, do the following:

1. Right-click a Windows file and choose **Open with** > **Choose another app**.
2. Select the macOS application you want to use with that type of file and make sure **Always use this app to open \<file\_extension> files** is selected. Now all files of this type will open in the selected macOS application.

For Windows 7 and 8:

To make some type of Windows files always open in a macOS application, do the following:

1. Right-click a Windows file and choose **Open with** > **Choose default application**.
2. Select the macOS application you want to use with that type of file and make sure **Use this app for all \<file\_extension> files** is selected. Now all files of this type will open in the selected macOS application.