Change the default app for a single file type

To change which app opens a specific file type — like PDFs, images, or documents — find any file of that type on your Mac, right-click it, and select Open With. A menu appears showing apps that can open that file. Click the app you want to use instead.

This method changes the default only for that one file type. If you want the change to stick permanently, do not just click the app name. Instead, look for an option that says Always Open With or similar wording. Click that, and macOS will remember your choice the next time you open a file of the same type.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any file, select Open With, then choose the app you want and look for "Always Open With" to make the change permanent.
  • If the app you want does not appear in the Open With menu, you may need to browse your Applications folder to find it.
  • You can change defaults for individual file types (like .pdf or .jpg) without affecting how other file types open.
  • Changes made through Open With explore only to that file type, not to all files the app can handle.

Use the Get Info window for more control

For a more detailed approach, right-click the file and select Get Info. A window opens showing the file's details. Look for a section labeled Open With — it shows which app currently opens this file type.

Click the dropdown menu next to the app name. A list of compatible apps appears. Select the one you want to use. Below that list, you will see a button that says Change All. Click it, and macOS changes the default for every file of that type on your Mac.

Change defaults through System Settings

macOS also lets you set defaults from System Settings. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner, then select System Settings (or System Preferences on older Macs). Search for Default Apps or scroll until you find it.

In the Default Apps section, you will see categories like Mail, Browser, Calendar, and Photos. Some Macs also show a section for file types. Click any category to see which app is currently set as the default, then click it again to choose a different one from the list.

Not all file types appear in System Settings. For less common formats — like .xml, .csv, or specialized document types — the Get Info method usually works better.

What to do if your preferred app does not appear

If the app you want to use does not show up in the Open With menu or in System Settings, macOS may not recognize it as compatible with that file type. You have two options: browse for the app manually, or check whether the app actually supports that file format.

To browse manually, right-click the file, select Open With, then scroll to the bottom of the menu and click Other. A file browser opens. Navigate to your Applications folder, find the app you want, and click it. macOS will then offer to set it as the default.

If the app still does not appear after browsing, the app may not support that file type. Check the app's documentation or website to confirm it can open the file format you are trying to use.

Undo a default change

If you change your mind about a default and want to switch back, use the same method you used to change it. Right-click a file of that type, select Open With, choose the original app, and click Always Open With. Or use Get Info and click Change All to set it back.

macOS does not keep a history of previous defaults, so you will need to remember which app you used before. If you are not sure, try the app that came with macOS by default — for example, Preview for images, TextEdit for plain text, or Safari for web files.

File type defaults versus app-wide defaults

Changing the default for one file type does not change how that app behaves for other file types. For example, if you set Preview as the default for .jpg files, it does not automatically become the default for .png or .gif files. You must change each file type separately if you want them all to open in the same app.

Some apps let you set their own internal defaults. Open the app itself, look for Preferences or Settings (usually under the app name in the menu bar), and check whether it has options for which file types it should handle by default. This is separate from the macOS-level default you set through Open With or Get Info.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my app not show up in the Open With menu?

macOS only shows apps it recognizes as compatible with that file type. If your app is not listed, try clicking Other at the bottom of the Open With menu and browsing to your Applications folder manually. If the app still does not appear, it may not support that file format.

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

No. Default apps work at the file-type level across your entire Mac. If you set Preview as the default for .jpg files, every .jpg file will open in Preview, regardless of which folder it is in. You can still right-click any individual file and choose a different app to open it just that once.

What is the difference between Open With and Always Open With?

Clicking an app in the Open With menu opens that file in that app, but does not change the default. The next time you open a file of the same type, it will still use the old default. Always Open With (or Change All in Get Info) makes the change permanent for all future files of that type.

How do I reset file type defaults back to what Apple set them to?

macOS does not have a built-in reset button for individual file types. To restore the original default, right-click a file of that type, select Open With, and choose the app that came with macOS — for example, Preview for images, Safari for web files, or TextEdit for plain text documents.

Can I set the same app as default for multiple file types at once?

No. You must change each file type individually through Open With, Get Info, or System Settings. There is no option to bulk-assign one app to multiple file types in a single step.