Why Does Windows Keep Asking if I Want to Use an App When I Plug in My Laptop to a Wall Port?

Windows Keeps Asking: “Want to use App to Connect to USB-C Device?” Here’s How to Stop Asking

If you’re tired of seeing the prompt “Windows wants to know whether to open this app to connect to <device name>” every time you connect a USB-C cable to your laptop, you’re not alone. This message appears because Windows is trying to determine how to handle the device you’ve connected. However, if you’re confident you don’t need any specific app to manage the connection, it can become frustrating to see this prompt repeatedly.

Understanding the Prompt

When you plug a USB-C or any other cable into your laptop, Windows checks its registry for a default action associated with that device. If it doesn’t find one, it will prompt the user with the message “Windows wants to know whether to open this app to connect to <device name>”. When this message appears, you have the option to either “Always open this app” or “Cancel” the action.

Stopping the Prompt for Good

To stop the prompt from appearing altogether, you can set a default action for the device in question. There are several ways to accomplish this task, depending on the type of device and its intended use. In some cases, you can simply change the default app for a given file type. However, if this doesn’t suit your needs, you can edit the Windows registry to change the default behavior for a device class or an individual device.

Changing the Default App for a File Type

If the device you’ve connected is intended to transfer a specific type of file for which there is an associated Windows app, such as a camera connected to transfer photos, you can change the default app associated with that file type. For instance, instead of opening a photo in the Camera app, you can set it to open directly in your preferred photo editor.

To change the default app for a file type:

1. Locate a file associated with the device in question.
2. Right-click on the file, then choose “Open with” > “Choose another app”.
3. Select the app you’d like to use as the default, then check the box “Always use this app to open <file type> files” (see Figure 1 below).

Editing the Windows Registry

If changing the default app for a file type isn’t an option or doesn’t fit your needs, you can edit the Windows registry to alter the default behavior for device classes or specific devices.

Before making these changes, you should understand the risks involved in editing the Windows registry. Modifying the wrong key can cause significant problems with your system. You should always create a backup of your registry before making any changes. If you’re not comfortable editing the registry, it’s recommended that you seek help from an expert.

To change the default behavior for a device class:

1. Press the Windows key + R to open the Run dialog box.
2. Type “regedit”, then press Enter or click OK to open the Registry Editor.
3. Navigate to the following key: HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\
4. Find the class identifier (CLSID) for the device class you want to modify. As an example, we’ll use the USB Mass Storage Class (see Figure 2 below):
   • HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\USB
   • HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\USBSTOR
5. Edit the (Default) value and set it to your preferred action (see Figure 3 below):
• none: Cancel the connection without a prompt
• open: Open an empty window in the default app
• prompt: Continue showing the prompt

To change the default behavior for a specific device USB\_Device\_VID\_<device identifier> (see Figure 4 below):

1. Follow steps 1-3 from the previous section.
2. Navigate to the specific device subkey:
• HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\
• HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\WPD\_
• HKEY\_CURRENT\_USER\SOFTWARE\Classes\USB\_Device\_VID\_<device identifier>
3. Edit the (Default) value, setting it to your preferred action:
• none: Cancel the connection without a prompt
• open: Open an empty window in the default app
• prompt: Continue showing the prompt

• When connecting USB-C or other devices, Windows looks for a default action in the registry. If it can't find one, it prompts the user with a message about app selection.
• To stop the prompts, you can change the default app associated with a file type or edit the Windows registry to change the default behavior for device classes or specific devices.
• Be cautious when editing the Windows registry, as making mistakes can lead to system issues. Always back up the registry before making any changes.

References

• Microsoft. (n.d.). Change default apps in Windows. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/change-default-apps-in-windows-a8e78a61-5fc8-4f55-8fe7-922ac4796a2a
• Microsoft. (n.d.). How to edit the registry in Windows. https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-edit-the-registry-in-windows-b828749f-1dd7-27e3-9ddb-8eb162113954