Set a default app for a single file type

On a Mac, you can tell the system which app to use when you open a particular type of file — a PDF, image, document, or anything else. The fastest way is to right-click the file itself, select Open With, choose the app you want, then click Change All. This changes the default for every file of that type, not just the one you clicked.

If you only want to open that one file in a different app without changing the default, select the app from the Open With menu but do not click Change All. Just click the app name and press Enter.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any file, select Open With, pick your app, then click Change All to set it as the default for all files of that type.
  • You can also change defaults in System Settings under General > Default Apps if you want to see all file types at once.
  • Different file types can have different defaults — you might open PDFs in one app and images in another.
  • If an app does not appear in the Open With menu, you can drag it into the list or use System Settings to add it.

Use System Settings to change defaults for multiple file types

If you want to change defaults without hunting through your files, open System Settings and go to General > Default Apps. You will see a list of file types — documents, images, videos, audio files, and more. Click any category to see which app is currently set as the default, then click the dropdown to pick a different one.

This view is useful if you want to change several defaults at once, or if you are not sure which file type a particular file belongs to. For example, if you want all web links to open in a specific browser instead of Safari, you can set that here under the Web Browser category.

Add an app to the Open With menu if it does not appear

Sometimes an app you own does not show up in the Open With menu. The quickest fix is to open Finder, go to Applications, find the app, and drag it directly onto the file you want to open. This tells macOS that the app can handle that file type.

If that does not work, you can also right-click the file, select Open With, scroll to the bottom, and click Other. This opens a file browser where you can navigate to Applications and select the app manually. After you pick it, the app will appear in the Open With menu next time.

Change the default app for URLs and web links

If you want all web links to open in a browser other than Safari, go to System Settings > General > Default Apps and look for Web Browser. Click the dropdown and select your preferred browser — Chrome, Firefox, Edge, or any other browser you have installed.

This setting applies to links you click in Mail, Messages, Notes, and other apps. If you change your mind later, you can return to the same menu and switch back to Safari or pick a different browser.

Revert to the original default app

If you change a default and want to go back to what macOS came with, open System Settings > General > Default Apps, find the file type, and click the dropdown. The original app — usually Safari for web links, Preview for images, or Apple Books for PDFs — will be listed as an option. Select it to restore the original default.

You can also reset all defaults at once by going to System Settings > General and clicking Reset at the bottom of the window, then selecting Reset all default apps. This returns every file type to its original macOS default.

What to do if an app keeps opening files you did not intend

Sometimes an app will claim ownership of a file type you did not ask it to handle — this often happens after you install new software. To stop it, right-click a file of that type, select Open With, choose the app you actually want, and click Change All. This overwrites the unwanted default.

If the app keeps reasserting itself after you change the default, the app may be resetting the association every time it launches. In that case, open the app's own settings or preferences and look for an option like Set as default or Make default — toggle it off if it is on. If you cannot find the setting, you may need to uninstall and reinstall the app, or contact the app's support.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different default apps for the same file type?

No — you can only have one default app per file type. However, you can always right-click a file and choose Open With to pick a different app for just that file, without changing the default for all files of that type.

Why does an app not appear in the Open With menu?

The app may not be registered with macOS as able to open that file type. Try dragging the app onto the file from Finder, or use Open With > Other to browse to the app manually. After you do this once, the app should appear in the menu next time.

What happens if I delete an app that was set as a default?

macOS will revert to the original default app for that file type. If you reinstall the app later, you can set it as the default again through System Settings or the Open With menu.

Can I change the default app for a file extension I created myself?

macOS handles only standard file types in System Settings. For custom or unusual extensions, use the Open With > Change All method on a file with that extension, and macOS will remember your choice for future files with the same extension.