Set a New Default Video Player in System Settings

To change which video player opens when you double-click a video file on your Mac, you use the Info window for that file type. The process takes about two minutes and applies to all videos of the same format — for example, all .mp4 files or all .mov files.

Right-click any video file in the format you want to change (an .mp4, .mkv, .avi, or whatever you use most). Select Get Info from the menu. A window opens showing the file's details.

In that window, look for the section labeled Open with:. Click the dropdown menu next to it. You will see a list of video players installed on your Mac — likely including QuickTime Player, VLC, Infuse, or others you have downloaded. Select the player you want to use as the default.

Below the dropdown, you will see a button that says Change All. Click it. This tells your Mac to open all videos in that same format with the player you just chose. You can repeat this process for each video format you use regularly.

Key Takeaways

  • The default player is set per file format, so you may need to change .mp4 files separately from .mkv files if you use both.
  • Right-click any video file, select Get Info, and use the "Open with" dropdown to pick a new player, then click Change All.
  • VLC and Infuse are common alternatives to QuickTime Player and handle more video formats without extra setup.
  • If your preferred player does not appear in the dropdown, you may need to read it first or move it from the Downloads folder to Applications.

Why Your Preferred Player May Not Appear in the Dropdown

If you have downloaded a video player but it does not show up in the "Open with" dropdown, the most common reason is that the app is still in your Downloads folder instead of your Applications folder. macOS looks for apps in Applications first.

Open Finder and go to your Downloads folder. Find the video player app — it will have a .app extension, though macOS may hide the extension. Drag it to your Applications folder. Once it is there, close the Info window and open it again. The player should now appear in the dropdown.

If the app still does not appear, try restarting your Mac. Sometimes the system needs to refresh its list of installed applications before a newly moved app shows up in menus.

Changing the Default for Different Video Formats

Your Mac treats .mp4, .mkv, .avi, and .mov as different file types, so you can set a different default player for each one if you want. This is useful if one player handles some formats better than others — for example, VLC plays .mkv files reliably, but you prefer QuickTime for .mp4 files.

To do this, repeat the process for each format: right-click a video file in that format, select Get Info, choose your preferred player from the "Open with" dropdown, and click Change All. The setting applies only to that format.

If you want one player to handle all your video files, choose the most versatile option. VLC and Infuse both play nearly every format without requiring additional codecs or plugins, which is why many people set one of them as the default for all video types.

Using Finder's Default Apps Settings (Monterey and Later)

On macOS Monterey (version 12) and newer, you can also change defaults through System Settings. Open System Settings and go to General, then Default apps. Scroll down to find video-related file types and select your preferred player from the dropdown for each one.

This method is faster if you want to change multiple formats at once, because you can see all the video types in one place. However, not all video players appear in this menu — only those that have registered themselves with macOS as capable of opening videos. If your player does not show up here, use the Get Info method instead.

The Get Info method and the System Settings method do the same thing; use whichever feels more natural to you.

What to Do If a Video Still Opens in the Wrong Player

If you have changed the default but a video still opens in QuickTime or another player, the file may have been set to open with that player specifically, overriding the format default. This sometimes happens with files you downloaded or received from someone else.

Right-click the individual file, select Get Info, and change the "Open with" setting for that file alone. You do not need to click Change All — just close the window. That file will now open with your chosen player, while other files in the same format continue to use the format-wide default you set earlier.

Another possibility is that the file has a hidden or unusual extension. Right-click it, select Get Info, and look at the filename at the top of the window. If it shows something like "video.mp4.mov" or has an extension you do not recognize, the system may be reading the last extension instead of the first one.

Recommended Video Players for Mac

VLC is free and plays almost every video format without requiring you to install codecs separately. It is reliable and has been around for years. The interface is basic but functional.

Infuse is a paid app (with a free version that has limits) and has a polished interface designed for people who watch a lot of video. It plays most formats and integrates with streaming services. The paid version costs a one-time fee of around $15 to $20, depending on sales.

QuickTime Player comes built into macOS and works well for .mov and .mp4 files, which are the most common formats. It is straightforward and uses very little system resources, but it does not play formats like .mkv or .avi without additional software.

IINA is a free, open-source player that is popular with people who want something more modern-looking than VLC but do not want to pay. It handles most formats and is lightweight.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different default player for videos in different folders?

No. The default is set by file format across your entire Mac. All .mp4 files will open with the same player no matter where they are stored. You can change individual files by using Get Info on that specific file, but you cannot set folder-specific defaults.

Will changing the default player affect videos I have already watched?

No. Changing the default only affects which player opens when you double-click a video going forward. It does not change anything about files you have already opened or any settings within those files.

What if I want to open a video with a different player just one time?

Right-click the video file and select Open With from the menu. A submenu appears showing all available players. Click the one you want to use for that single file. The default setting stays the same for future videos.

Does changing the default player work for videos in web browsers?

No. Videos that play inside a web browser (like YouTube or Netflix) use the browser's built-in player, not your Mac's default. The default player setting only applies to video files stored on your computer that you open by double-clicking them.

Why does my video player not show up in the "Open with" list?

The app is likely still in your Downloads folder instead of Applications. Move it to Applications and try again. If it still does not appear, restart your Mac. Some apps also require you to open them at least once before they register with the system.