ICO File Type Default Application

I inadvertently changed the .ico file type to MS Paint. What is the default app for this extension? I know how to change it, but cannot determine what it was out of the box.

If you want, you can press Windows + I on the keyboard to open the Settings app. Select Apps in the left navigation pane, and then click “Default apps” on the right.

You’ll see a list of default apps. Scroll down to the bottom and click the Reset button.

A pop-up window will ask you to confirm. Click OK and it will restore all file type associations to Microsoft recommended defaults.


You can also use the attached registry file to associate .ico file extension with default program, but this registry file is created for Windows 10 i don't see any problem using on Windows 11.

I am only interested in what MS provides as a default app out of the box. I know how to change the individual file types using Windows + I and searching for ico in the Search field under Default Apps.

pwcrickman said:

I am only interested in what MS provides as a default app out of the box. I know how to change the individual file types using Windows + I and searching for ico in the Search field under Default Apps.

Click to expand...

Where are you going to found it.

I don’t believe there is one. I changed the .ico extension to PSP & I had to use Brink’s fix to have the icon show within explorer. I checked for the default setting & there was none.

As Bastet says there is no default application set for .ico files in a clean installation of Windows 11