How to Change the Default App for a File Type on Mac

You can change the default app for a file on your Mac in Finder. To change it for every file with the same extension, open the file’s Get Info window, choose a new app under Open with, and select Change All.

Quick Answer

1. Open Finder and locate a file of the type you want to change.
2. Control-click the file, then choose Get Info.
3. Expand Open with.
4. Choose the app you want to use.
5. Click Change All, then confirm by clicking Continue.

Choose Open With from the shortcut menu instead if you want to use a different app only once. That does not change the default app.

How Default Apps Work on a Mac

A default app is the application macOS automatically opens when you double-click a particular kind of file. File types are usually identified by a filename extension, such as:

• .pdf for PDF documents
• .jpg and .png for image files
• .docx for Microsoft Word documents
• .txt for plain-text files
• .mp4 for video files
• .zip for compressed archives

For example, you might want PDFs to open in Adobe Acrobat instead of Preview, or images to open in a photo editor instead of Preview.

macOS lets you change the app for:

• One specific file
• Every file of the same type

The second option changes the association for files with the same extension, not necessarily every file that looks similar. For example, changing the default for one .jpg file applies to other .jpg files, but not automatically to .png files.

Open a File With a Different App Once

If you only need to use another app temporarily, use Open With. This leaves the default app unchanged.

1. Open Finder.
2. Locate the file.
3. Control-click the file. You can also right-click it if you use a secondary mouse button.
4. Point to Open With.
5. Select the app you want to use.

The file opens in the selected app, but double-clicking it later still uses the current default app.

Choose an App That Does Not Appear in the Menu

If the app you want is not listed:

1. Control-click the file in Finder.
2. Point to Open With.
3. Choose Other.
4. Select the app in the application picker.
5. If appropriate, select Always Open With.
6. Click Open.

Be careful with Always Open With. Selecting it changes the default app for that file type, rather than opening the file only once.

Change the Default App for One File

You can assign a different app to one file without changing how macOS opens other files of the same type.

1. Open Finder and locate the file.
2. Control-click the file.
3. Choose Get Info.
4. In the information window, expand Open with if it is collapsed.
5. Click the app menu under Open with.
6. Select the app you want to use.
7. Close the information window.

From now on, double-clicking that particular file opens it in the selected app. Other files with the same extension continue using their existing default app.

If the App Is Not Listed

If the desired app does not appear in the Open with menu:

1. Open the file’s Get Info window.
2. Expand Open with.
3. Click the app menu.
4. Choose Other.
5. Select the application.
6. Click Add or Open, depending on the dialog shown.
7. Close the Get Info window.

The app must be capable of opening that file type. Some applications may appear in the picker but display an error when you try to open an unsupported file.

Change the Default App for Every File of the Same Type

Use the Change All button when you want every file with the same extension to open in a new app.

Before continuing, close the file if it is open and save any unsaved work. Changing the default app does not normally close applications or delete files, but selecting the wrong app can make files open in an unsuitable program.

1. Open Finder.
2. Find a file with the extension you want to change.
3. Control-click the file and choose Get Info.
4. Expand Open with.
5. Click the app menu.
6. Select the new default app.
7. Click Change All.
8. Read the confirmation message.
9. Click Continue to confirm.
10. Close the Get Info window.

Double-clicking files with that extension should now open them in the selected app.

Example: Make PDFs Open in Another App

To make PDF files open in an app other than Preview:

1. Find any PDF in Finder.
2. Control-click it and choose Get Info.
3. Expand Open with.
4. Select the PDF application you prefer.
5. Click Change All.
6. Click Continue.
7. Close the information window.

This changes the default for PDF files generally. It does not move, convert, rename, or delete the PDFs.

Show File Extensions in Finder

If you cannot tell which file type you are changing, display filename extensions in Finder.

Show the Extension for One File

1. Control-click the file.
2. Choose Get Info.
3. Expand Name & Extension.
4. Review the filename extension.
5. If necessary, select or clear Hide extension.

Changing a file’s extension manually does not convert its format. For example, renaming a text file from .txt to .pdf does not turn it into a PDF and may prevent apps from opening it correctly.

Show Extensions for Files in Finder

To display extensions for files more broadly:

1. Open Finder.
2. In the menu bar, choose Finder > Settings.
3. Select Advanced.
4. Enable Show all filename extensions.

The wording and available options can vary slightly depending on your macOS version, but the setting is in Finder’s advanced settings.

Change the Default App From the Open With Menu

You can also reach the relevant settings from a file’s shortcut menu, although the Get Info method is usually clearer when changing the association for all files.

1. Control-click a file in Finder.
2. Point to Open With.
3. Choose Other.
4. Select the app.
5. Enable Always Open With, if that option appears.
6. Click Open.

This method is useful when you are already opening a file and want to make the selected app the default. If you do not see Always Open With, use the Get Info method and click Change All.

Revert to the Previous Default App

If you change the default app and later want to undo it, repeat the same process:

1. Find a file of the affected type.
2. Control-click it and choose Get Info.
3. Expand Open with.
4. Select the app you want to use.
5. Click Change All.
6. Click Continue.

If you only changed one file, select the original app in that file’s Open with menu instead. You do not need to change all files unless you previously used Change All.

What to Do When a File Opens in the Wrong App

If the wrong app opens after you double-click a file, check the file’s default association:

1. Open the file’s Get Info window.
2. Expand Open with.
3. Check the selected application.
4. Select the correct app.
5. Click Change All if the change should apply to every file of that type.
6. Click Continue to confirm.

If only one file is affected, the file may have its own specific app assignment. Select the correct app in Open with and close the window without clicking Change All.

Troubleshooting

The New Default App Does Not Stay Selected

Repeat the change from Get Info and use Change All rather than changing only the app menu. Then click Continue when macOS asks for confirmation.

If the problem continues, restart Finder:

1. Press and hold Option while Control-clicking the Finder icon in the Dock.
2. Choose Relaunch.

Relaunching Finder closes and reopens Finder windows. Save work in other apps first, and make sure you are not in the middle of copying or moving files.

The App Does Not Appear in the App List

Choose Other from the app menu and browse to the application. If it still does not appear, it may not support the file type.

Some apps open only certain formats. For example, an image editor may support .psd files but not every camera or video format. Check the app’s documentation or try opening a sample file from within the app.

The File Type Is Not What You Expected

Open Get Info and expand Name & Extension. The extension may be hidden, missing, or different from the one you expected.

Do not add or replace an extension just to make the file open in another application. A filename extension describes the file’s format; it does not convert the file.

“Open With” Shows Duplicate Apps

The Open With menu can sometimes list the same app more than once. This may happen if macOS has more than one copy of the application or if its application list needs to be refreshed.

First, check your Applications folder for duplicate copies. If the duplicates remain, restarting the Mac may refresh the list. Avoid deleting an app unless you know which copy you need and have confirmed that you do not rely on it.

The App Opens the File but Displays an Error

The selected application may not fully support that file format, or the file may be damaged. Try opening a different file of the same type. If only one file fails, the issue may be with that file rather than the default app.

You can temporarily test another application with Open With without changing the default association.

The Change Applies to Some Files but Not Others

Files that appear similar may use different extensions. For example, .jpg, .jpeg, .png, and .heic are separate file types. Change the default for each extension if you want them all to use the same application.

Files stored in another operating system, on a network drive, or inside a managed work environment may also behave differently because of permissions or organizational settings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I change the default app for a file on Mac?

In Finder, Control-click the file, choose Get Info, expand Open with, select an app, and close the window. This changes the default for that individual file.

How do I change the default app for all files of a type?

Open Get Info for a file of that type, choose an app under Open with, click Change All, and then click Continue.

What is the difference between “Open With” and “Change All”?

Open With lets you select an app for one opening. Change All changes the default app for every file with the same filename extension.

Can I make different files of the same type use different apps?

Yes. Change the app in Get Info for an individual file and do not click Change All. That file can use a different app while other files of the same type keep their existing default.

Will changing the default app alter or convert my files?

No. It changes which app macOS uses to open the files. It does not convert, rename, move, or delete them.

Why does macOS keep opening files in Preview?

Preview is commonly associated with several image and document formats. Select a file in Finder, open Get Info, choose another app under Open with, and click Change All if you want the change to apply to every file of that type.

Can I change the default app without opening the file?

Yes. Use Finder’s Get Info window or the shortcut menu’s Open With option. The file does not need to be opened first.

Does changing the app for a .jpg file also change .png files?

Usually not. Each filename extension can have its own default association. Change the default separately for .jpg, .png, .heic, or other extensions as needed.

Final Thoughts

The simplest way to change a default app on a Mac is through Finder’s Get Info window. Use Open With when you need another app temporarily, change the app without using Change All for one file, and choose Change All when every file of that type should open in the same application.