WARNING - Windows 11 21H2 build 22000.2295 is hijacking file associations

Today I've discovered that Windows 11 21H2 build 22000.2295 has reset all file associations for my files, and for common ones can't even change which program they open with anymore. Pictures are opened with "Photos" app.

The only way to recover the hijacked extensions is to remove the Photos app:

Get-AppxPackage *photos*

RunspaceId             : 45537662-91b9-42bb-88f8-d706f311e297
Name                   : Microsoft.Windows.Photos
Publisher              : CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US
PublisherId            : 8wekyb3d8bbwe
Architecture           : X64
ResourceId             :
Version                : 2023.11050.16005.0
PackageFamilyName      : Microsoft.Windows.Photos_8wekyb3d8bbwe
PackageFullName        : Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2023.11050.16005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
InstallLocation        : C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.Windows.Photos_2023.11050.16005.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
IsFramework            : False
PackageUserInformation : {}
IsResourcePackage      : False
IsBundle               : False
IsDevelopmentMode      : False
NonRemovable           : False
Dependencies           : {Microsoft.Photos.MediaEngineDLC_1.0.0.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe, Microsoft.NET.Native.Framework.2.2_2.2.29512.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe,
                         Microsoft.NET.Native.Runtime.2.2_2.2.28604.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe, Microsoft.Services.Store.Engagement_10.0.23012.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe…}
IsPartiallyStaged      : False
SignatureKind          : Store
Status                 : Ok


Get-AppxPackage *photos* | Remove-AppxPackage

Movies & TV must also be uninstalled:

Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.ZuneVideo

RunspaceId             : 45537662-91b9-42bb-88f8-d706f311e297
Name                   : Microsoft.ZuneVideo
Publisher              : CN=Microsoft Corporation, O=Microsoft Corporation, L=Redmond, S=Washington, C=US
PublisherId            : 8wekyb3d8bbwe
Architecture           : X64
ResourceId             :
Version                : 10.22091.10041.0
PackageFamilyName      : Microsoft.ZuneVideo_8wekyb3d8bbwe
PackageFullName        : Microsoft.ZuneVideo_10.22091.10041.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
InstallLocation        : C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Microsoft.ZuneVideo_10.22091.10041.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe
IsFramework            : False
PackageUserInformation : {}
IsResourcePackage      : False
IsBundle               : False
IsDevelopmentMode      : False
NonRemovable           : False
Dependencies           : {Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00_14.0.32530.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe, Microsoft.UI.Xaml.2.7_7.2208.15002.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe, Microsoft.VCLibs.140.00.UWPDesktop_14.0.32530.0_x64__8wekyb3d8bbwe,
                         Microsoft.ZuneVideo_10.22091.10041.0_neutral_split.scale-100_8wekyb3d8bbwe}
IsPartiallyStaged      : False
SignatureKind          : Store
Status                 : Ok


Get-AppxPackage Microsoft.ZuneVideo | Remove-AppxPackage

Now I can finally change file associations. Here are the details before and after uninstalling Photos:

Before

After

Links:

• Can't set default app for some common file types in Windows 11
• How to Uninstall the Movies and TV App