How to Open STL Files in Cura – Default

If you frequently work with STL files, then you know that Cura is one of the most simple and user-friendly programs to handle them. So, how do you open your STL files in Cura by default and not in other programs such as Meshmixer or ChiTuBox? I wrote this article to walk you through the process.

To open your STL files in Cura by default, just right-click on it, select “Open with”, then “Choose another app”. After that, select Cura and click the checkbox labeled “Always use this app to open .stl files”. Lastly, click “OK”, and all your STL files will open in Cura in the future.

You can use this simple procedure to open STL files in Cura. I will provide more details and illustrations, so continue reading to learn more. You can also open STL files by default through your settings if you’re on Windows 10 for example.

How to Open STL Files in Cura – Default

Below is the step-by-step procedure you can follow to open STL files in Cura:

Right-click on the STL file
Select “Open with” and then “Choose another app”
Select “Ultimaker Cura” and check the “Always use this app to open .stl files” box

Step 1: Right-Click on the STL File

If the STL file you downloaded from Thingiverse or may be created using modeling software like TinkerCAD keeps opening in another program such as ChiTuBox (for this example), go to where you saved it and right-click.

How to Open STL Files in Cura - Right Click - 3D Printerly

Step 2: Select “Open With” and Then “Choose Another App”

Select “Open with” from the drop-down list to choose a program. If you can’t already see Cura among the list of options, select “Choose another app”.

Step 3: Select “Ultimaker Cura” and Check the “Always Use This APP to Open STL Files” Box

First, select “Ultimaker Cura” as the app you would like to open with.

Next, to ensure that all the STL files open in Cura by default in the future, check the “Always use this app to open .stl file” box at the bottom and then click “OK”.

All your STL files will now be displayed with the Cura icon, meaning they will open in Cura by default.

How to Open STL Files in Cura From Settings

Another simple way to open STL files in Cura is by going into your settings and changing the default app for opening STL files. Here is how to do it:

Type “Default apps” in your Windows search bar and select it
Click “Choose default apps by file type”
Scroll down under “Name” to locate the “.stl” file type
Click on the Default app and change it to Ultimaker Cura

Step 1: Type “Default apps” in Your Windows Search Bar and Select It

The simplest way to access the “Default apps” settings is to type “Default app” in your Windows search bar. After that, click “Open”. This will take you to the Settings.