OS X: How to Change Default Application to Open File Type

Contributor Icon Contributed by davak Date Icon August 26, 2007  
Tag Icon Tagged: Apple Mac

If you click on a file and the wrong app opens it, you can change the default application to open that file or file type. These are the steps to both change the default app to open one specific file or to change the default app to open all files of one file type.


I frequently work with images on my MPR. Typically I just want to view an image instead of edit it so having Preview as my default app makes sense.

However, some images I know I am going to edit and edit and edit. By changing the default application to photoshop for that file, I can save a bunch of time.

Anyway, here is how to do it for one specific file only first. Below I’ll show you how to change the default application for all files of one file type.

Change Default App for One File:

1. Ctrl-click on the file you want to open
2. Click Open with
3. Select Other

4. Select the applcation you want to open the file
5. Select Always Open With
6. Click Open button

Now that one file will always open with the application you picked.

If you want to change the default app that opens all the files of one particular file type, you can do that too.

Change Default App for All Files of a File Type:

1. Ctrl-click on the file
2. Click Get Info

3. Under Open With pick the app that you want to become the default

4. Click the Change All button
5. Confirm your decision

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  • thank you! I always wondered how that was done!
  • Macesz
    Thanks!!!!
  • plusarchi
    Thank you.
  • mojo
    thanks. helpful
  • anon
    Thanks, awesome, succinct.
  • Thanks for the kind words!
  • Hypnos
    Thank you for the solution. I was wondering about the latter case, as as recent OS switcher.
  • Computermad
    Thanks! gd job!
  • steeeverb
    I've been looking for this answer -- perfect. Why I cannot find this answer on apple.com is beyond me. They obviously made the functionality...
    Thanks so much.
  • anon
    This fails and instantly reverts to the previous application. Try giving complete informaiton next time.

    Some applications forbid you from changing the type and there is no known bypass,

    Microsoft office, and The unarchiver both will not allow you to change their types after wet w/o uninstalling the applications. Try it out install comical, then the unarchiver, then try to set cbr files back to comical. It's impossible till you uninstall the unarchinver, same with office.
  • thanks
  • Zinga
    Thanks a lot for the tip!!!
  • Richie
    Thanks!
  • hparry
    I've just done this, but the trouble is every document i download has .html added to the end of it, so my computer thinks everything is the same!

    How can I fix this? It's driving me mad!!
  • suzyru
    Really?!!? That easy? I simply can't believe I didn't figure that out on my own. Off & on for the last 2 months I've been searching around system preferences and what not, trying to find a way to set a default app for all .avi files.. all the while doing the normal "angry at my computer" dance.
    Thank you for making my life a little easier!
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