How to remove the expired\deleted application option in the default opening method setting?

The specific method for removing an expired or deleted application from a default opening method setting depends entirely on the operating system in question, as the mechanisms for managing file associations and default apps are core, platform-specific functions. On Windows 10 or 11, this is typically managed through the "Default apps" section of the Settings menu. The system generally performs a check against the installed application registry when you access these menus; if the target application's executable path is invalid because the software was uninstalled, the entry often fails to appear in the list of available choices for a given file type or protocol. However, persistent or "stale" entries can sometimes remain in more granular legacy menus, such as the "Set Associations" page in Windows 10 or the classic "Open With" dialog box invoked by right-clicking a file. In these cases, manual registry editing may be cited as a solution, but this carries significant risk of system instability and should be considered a last resort only for technically proficient users, as the relevant keys are scattered and not designed for casual user intervention.

On macOS, the process is generally more streamlined due to the system's integrated management of application bundles. The primary interface is found in System Preferences under "General" > "Default web browser" or by using the "Get Info" panel on a specific file type and changing the "Open with" selection. macOS typically purges unavailable applications from these lists dynamically. If a deleted app persists, rebuilding the Launch Services database via the `lsregister` command in Terminal is the underlying mechanism that clears these cached associations. This is a low-level system function that, while effective, is a technical procedure outside the standard graphical user interface.

For Android and iOS, the paradigm shifts to a per-app and intent-based model. On Android, default app settings are managed globally in Settings under "Apps" and then "Default apps," or within the settings of individual applications that have declared the ability to handle certain actions, like opening web links. When an app is uninstalled, the system automatically revokes its default assignments. Lingering issues are less about a visible list entry and more about the system not correctly resetting a default, which is usually resolved by clearing the defaults for a competing app or resetting all app preferences in the system settings. iOS operates with even stricter sandboxing; defaults are set app-by-app (such as designating a default mail client or browser), and uninstalling an app immediately removes it as an option. The mechanism here is controlled by the system's entitlement and declaration management, leaving no user-accessible residue.

The common thread across platforms is that modern operating systems are designed to auto-clean these associations, making manual removal an uncommon necessity. When a deleted application option does persist, it often indicates a deeper issue with the uninstaller routine failing to clean its registered handlers or a corruption in the system's association database. The solution therefore is not a universal step-by-step guide but a diagnostic process: first, verify the application is fully uninstalled, including any residual helper tools or background services; second, use the official, highest-level system settings menu for default apps rather than third-party utilities; and finally, consider that a system restart may be required to allow the OS to refresh its internal caches of available applications. Direct registry or database manipulation should be avoided unless documented by the platform owner for that specific, verified symptom.