Can't Open EXE Files on Windows? Try This Utimate Guide

Double-clicking the EXE file cannot run the program? Some Windows users report that they cannot open EXE files on their computers. If you have the same problem, this article will provide you with a solution!

Executable files (EXE files) are used to start the operating system. Generally, the executable file has an extension of EXE, but other formats exist, such as BAT, CMD, COM, WSH, etc. You can double-click the EXE file to run them. However, you may encounter problems that you cannot open the EXE file properly. This article explains the cause of this problem and how to resolve it.

Why can't I open the EXE file?

When running Windows operating systems, you may encounter various problems, including the inability to open the EXE file. Several reasons may cause the EXE file to fail to open. Here are some possible reasons:

• Malware/Virus Attack
• Corrupted registry file
• File association issues
• Files are in incompatible mode
• Other reasons

How to solve the problem of not being able to open EXE files?

Fortunately, there are some viable ways to help you solve the problem and force the EXE file to open.

Method 1: Run malware/virus scan

Malware or virus infection may cause the EXE file to fail to open. You can use the Windows Security Center to perform a virus scan to check for and remove viruses.

Step 1: Press Win I to open Windows settings.

Step 2: Select Update and Security and go to the Windows Security tab.

Step 3: Select Virus and Threat Protection in the right pane.

Step 4: Click the Scan option under the Current Threat section and select Quick Scan .

Step 5: Click the Scan Now button.

If you want to do a deeper scan, you can select the Full Scan option on the same interface, but this will take longer.

Method 2: Adjust the Windows registry

The Windows registry contains key information about the operating system, software, and firmware. If the registry information is wrong, the performance of the software and even the computer will be affected. Instead, you can also change the value of the subkey to fix the issue.

Notice:

Step 1: Press Win R to open the "Run" window.

Step 2: Type regedit in the text box and press Enter to open the Registry Editor.

Step 3: Navigate to HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT > .exe and double-click the (Default) subkey.

Step 4: Change the numerical data to exefile and click OK to save the changes.

Step 5: Copy and paste the path to the address bar and press Enter to quickly find the registry key:

HKEY_CLASSES_ROOT\exefile\shell\open\command

Step 6: Double-click the (Default) subkey in the right pane, and type * %1 in the "Value Data" box and click OK ** to save the changes.

Once you have finished setting up, you should restart your computer to apply the changes completely, and then reopen the EXE file to see if the issue is resolved.

Method 3: Create a new user account

Sometimes, you may not be able to run the EXE file due to account permissions and other restrictions on the current user account. You can switch to another account to see if the problem can be resolved.

Step 1: Click the Start menu and select the profile icon.

Step 2: Select Logout from the menu.

Step 3: Wait for a few minutes until you see the login screen and select another account to log in.

Method 4: Fix file association problems

If the file association is incorrect, you may find that the EXE file cannot be opened. But this problem can be solved in simple steps.

Step 1: Press Win S and type the command prompt into the search box.

Step 2: Select Run as Administrator from the right pane.

Step 3: Type assoc.exe=exefile and press Enter .

After that, restart the computer and try to open the EXE file.

Additional tips

If unfortunately your files are lost during the repair process, you should recover them as soon as possible. If you choose the right data recovery software, such as MiniTool Power Data Recovery, you can get twice the result with half the effort.

This free file recovery software can recover various types of files from various data storage devices, including USB drives, CDs, SD cards, external hard drives, etc. The software has a clear and concise interface that ensures easy operation for all users. You can try the free version to experience this software.

Summarize

If you cannot open the EXE file, you cannot run the program. You can try the above method to solve this problem. I hope one of these methods can help you in time.

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