I currently have SU 2026.1 windows 64 bit and wheneve I open an existing SU file it opens in different years. It may have to do with my organization of Old SU Files, but I still have other years on my computer. When I save a SU file in 2026 then open it up it opens up in other years. I can open from the 2026 Icon but It doesnt show years when I use MS Explorer even though I go into the program files and click on the 2026.1………thank you ..Billy
Heres the summery
billygo_mca is experiencing an issue where SketchUp 2026.1 (Windows 64-bit) opens existing .skp files in different versions/years than intended — sometimes not the 2026 version — even though files are saved in 2026. The issue persists whether opening via Windows Explorer or directly from the Program Files folder. The user suspects it may relate to how older SketchUp files are organized on the system, and notes that Explorer doesn’t display version years when opening files, despite manually selecting the 2026.1 executable. A screenshot is included showing file listings.
Your files can travel in time? Jk🤪
You must have set your pc to open Skp files with an older version of sketchup, you can fix this by uninstalling the older version or setting your pc to open skp files with sketchup 2026. I do it by right clicking on any skp file, go to properties, on the open with option search the sketchup 2026 app.
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Temporary renane all old SketchUp.exe to .exexxx
Add it to your forum profile. You can specify multiple versions.
The operating system cannot determine what SU version used to create a file. The operating system uses as the default to open .skp file the last version of SU you installed or reinstalled (when you e.g. double-click on a file in file explorer).
So, for example, if you installed version 2026, then all .skp files will open with it. But if you - later - re-install version 2023, then that 2023 version will become the default program for .skp’s.
The easiest way to choose which one to open the .skp file with is to open the Sketchup version you want to use and use its “File >> Open…” menu item to locate the file in question.
The “uninstalling the older version” mentioned by @franciscofiallosb is unnecessary from this point of view. What is described in the second part of his comment is sufficient enough to change the file association.
In case you didn’t know, since version 2021, you can open any version of Sketchup in any other version, regardless of whether the version is lower or higher.
In most cases, it doesn’t matter which version you’re working with. (Although some features, such as material properties…, may be lost if you save a newer version file with an older SU program.)
I’ve had a case recently where no matter how many repairs or re-assign, windows would still open in 25. then 24 then 23.
Ended up removing all previous versions.
However, renaming the exe file as push says could work too, windows can’t launch your file in sketchup 25 if there is no exe file to find.
but this is a last resort solution, if repairing version 26 and re assigning to be the default version didn’t do anything.
I’m not sure what caused it since I’ve only seen it once.
On the other hand, sketchup removing its version number + the way windows displays apps doesn’t help. On mac at least, it’ll add the version number next to the name.
There are several reasons for this. It is possible that there is a “stuck” SU process when you install one of the other versions.
Some installers are buggy and do not do the association properly. (Latest major versions are mostly fine and are recommended if you want to do the file association this way.)
Windows itself tends to do interesting things. If you reboot the system before and after messing with the file association, it usually helps… sometimes there is no other way but to rename the other. exe’s. Or you create a “fake” exe file and associate it with the skp …, reboot and associate the skp with the appropriate SU program…
So there are some “magic” you can play with… but it will never be perfect. 
Windows has no awareness of what version of SketchUp a piece of software is and won’t try and match them
It knows to open .skp with a specific program whatever is set in the windows settings.
Not showing years is just the default “open with” behavior for windows - as it is just reading the name of the EXE
Then it would be nice/welcome if Triumble would insert the releasedate in the exe name, so people can change the required software to open specific files!?
As shown in the screenshot of the original post, you teel me/us which sketchup is which sketchup, 2017? 2020? 2023? 2025? 2152? 
Would think it is an easy adjustment to replace the superfluous “Application” text with a release date?
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You already have that tho - it’s installed in the windows shell - the 1st screenshot shows that
You can also add more.
The OP is using an old version of Windows, so I’m not sure if that is why it looks different/
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Except when it doesn’t. My Windows Explorer is stuck to SketchUp 2021 and nothing will make it change its mind.
Wil keep my eye on that the next time i get stuck opening the right file in the right program
Windows stores this in the registry
Computer\HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\FileExts.skp\UserChoice
This is how mine looks (I reinstall windows periodically to keep my machine optimal)
It may be that Windows has got confused - perhaps delete the whole .skp key here and run the 2026 installer again
Have you tried the “fake exe” method I linked above?
I dont want to delete previous versions because I still use some that have expired apps that I need
thanks
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I tried the other method and it opened as 2022
see my answers below
not yet, im looking for an easier way frankly
The last version installed was 2026.1
so far I am able to open 2026.1 and then open the file stored as 2025 into 2026.1
but when i save it it says 2023 and if I click on that it opens as 2025 