How to Change the Default Application for Opening Files on Mac

When you double-click a file on your Mac, macOS automatically opens it using a designated application. For example, PDF files open in Preview, and MP4 videos open in QuickTime Player. However, if you have downloaded a third-party application like Adobe Acrobat or VLC Media Player, you will likely want to change these default behaviours so your files open in your preferred software automatically.

In this guide, we will walk you through the process of changing the default application for a specific file type across your entire Mac, as well as how to change it for just a single individual file.

How to Change the Default Application for All Files of the Same Type

If you want every file with a specific extension (such as every .pdf or every .mp4 on your hard drive) to open in a new application, follow these steps:

1. Open the Finder and locate a file of the type you want to change (e.g., a PDF document).
2. Right-click (or Control-click) on the file.
3. Hold down the Option (⌥) key on your keyboard. You will notice that the “Open With” menu option changes to Always Open With.
4. Select Always Open With and choose your preferred application from the list.

Alternatively, you can use the Get Info panel, which provides a more permanent and clearer interface for this change:

1. Right-click on the file and select Get Info (or press Command + I).
2. In the Get Info window, look for the section labelled Open with:. If it is collapsed, click the small arrow next to it to expand the section.
3. Click the dropdown menu and select the application you want to use to open this file type.
4. To apply this change to every file of this type on your Mac, click the Change All… button located just beneath the dropdown menu.
5. A confirmation prompt will appear asking if you are sure you want to change all similar documents to open with this application. Click Continue.

How to Change the Application for One Specific File Only

Sometimes, you might want to open a single file in a different application without changing the default setting for every other file of that type. For instance, you might normally open JPG images in Apple Preview, but you want to open one specific JPG in Adobe Photoshop to edit it.

1. Right-click (or Control-click) on the file you wish to open.
2. Hover your mouse cursor over the Open With option in the context menu.
3. A submenu will appear listing all the applications installed on your Mac capable of opening that file.
4. Click on your desired application to open the file immediately.

This method is temporary. The next time you double-click that same file, it will revert to opening in the system-wide default application.

Troubleshooting: What If the Application Is Greyed Out?

When trying to change a default app using the “Open with” dropdown, you might notice that the application you want to use is greyed out and unselectable. This happens when macOS believes the application is not compatible with the file type.

If you are certain the application can handle the file, you can force macOS to allow the selection. In the application selection window, scroll to the bottom of the dropdown list and click Other…. When the Finder window opens to let you choose an app, look at the bottom of the window for the Enable: dropdown menu. Change this setting from “Recommended Applications” to All Applications. You will now be able to select any app on your Mac.