diff --git a/osu.Desktop/Program.cs b/osu.Desktop/Program.cs
index 65236940c6..494d0df3c6 100644
--- a/osu.Desktop/Program.cs
+++ b/osu.Desktop/Program.cs
@@ -174,10 +174,11 @@ namespace osu.Desktop
             {
                 tools.CreateShortcutForThisExe();
                 tools.CreateUninstallerRegistryEntry();
-                WindowsAssociationManager.InstallAssociations(null);
+                WindowsAssociationManager.InstallAssociations();
             }, onAppUpdate: (_, tools) =>
             {
                 tools.CreateUninstallerRegistryEntry();
+                WindowsAssociationManager.UpdateAssociations();
             }, onAppUninstall: (_, tools) =>
             {
                 tools.RemoveShortcutForThisExe();
diff --git a/osu.Desktop/Windows/WindowsAssociationManager.cs b/osu.Desktop/Windows/WindowsAssociationManager.cs
index 3d61ad534b..18a3c2da3d 100644
--- a/osu.Desktop/Windows/WindowsAssociationManager.cs
+++ b/osu.Desktop/Windows/WindowsAssociationManager.cs
@@ -51,12 +51,18 @@ namespace osu.Desktop.Windows
             new UriAssociation(@"osump", WindowsAssociationManagerStrings.OsuMultiplayer, Icons.Lazer),
         };
 
-        public static void InstallAssociations(LocalisationManager? localisation)
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Installs file and URI associations.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>
+        /// Call <see cref="UpdateDescriptions"/> in a timely fashion to keep descriptions up-to-date and localised.
+        /// </remarks>
+        public static void InstallAssociations()
         {
             try
             {
                 updateAssociations();
-                updateDescriptions(localisation);
+                updateDescriptions(null); // write default descriptions in case `UpdateDescriptions()` is not called.
                 NotifyShellUpdate();
             }
             catch (Exception e)
@@ -65,6 +71,38 @@ namespace osu.Desktop.Windows
             }
         }
 
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Updates associations with latest definitions.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <remarks>
+        /// Call <see cref="UpdateDescriptions"/> in a timely fashion to keep descriptions up-to-date and localised.
+        /// </remarks>
+        public static void UpdateAssociations()
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                updateAssociations();
+                NotifyShellUpdate();
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                Logger.Log(@$"Failed to update file and URI associations: {e.Message}");
+            }
+        }
+
+        public static void UpdateDescriptions(LocalisationManager localisationManager)
+        {
+            try
+            {
+                updateDescriptions(localisationManager);
+                NotifyShellUpdate();
+            }
+            catch (Exception e)
+            {
+                Logger.Log(@$"Failed to update file and URI association descriptions: {e.Message}");
+            }
+        }
+
         /// <summary>
         /// Installs or updates associations.
         /// </summary>