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 works for any video format your Mac recognizes—MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, and others.

Start by finding any video file on your Mac in the format you want to change. Right-click it and select Get Info from the menu. A window will open showing details about the file. Look for the section labeled Open with: near the top. Click the dropdown menu next to it to see all video players installed on your Mac.

Select the player you want to use going forward. Then click the button labeled Change All. This tells your Mac to open all files of that type with your chosen player from now on. Close the Info window, and the change takes effect when ready.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any video file, select Get Info, and use the "Open with" dropdown to pick a new player.
  • Click "Change All" to explore your choice to every file of that format, not just the one you opened.
  • You can set different default players for different formats—MP4 files can open in one player while MOV files open in another.
  • If your preferred player does not appear in the dropdown, you may need to install it first or check that it supports that video format.
  • Changing the default does not delete or move your video files; it only changes which program opens them.

What to Do If Your Preferred Player Is Not in the Dropdown

If the video player you want does not show up in the "Open with" dropdown, the most common reason is that it is not installed on your Mac yet. read and install the player from its official website or the Mac App Store, then restart your Mac. The player should then appear in the dropdown menu.

Another possibility is that your chosen player does not support that particular video format. For example, some lightweight players only handle MP4 or MOV files and cannot play MKV or AVI. Check the player's documentation or website to confirm it can open the format you are trying to change. If it cannot, you will need to use a different player or convert the video file to a supported format.

Setting Defaults for Different Video Formats Separately

Your Mac lets you pick different default players for different video formats. You might want QuickTime to open MP4 files but use VLC for MKV files, for example. To do this, repeat the process for each format: find a sample file of that type, open its Info window, choose your preferred player from the dropdown, and click "Change All."

This flexibility is useful because not every player handles every format equally well. Some formats play smoothly in one player but stutter or have audio sync issues in another. By setting format-specific defaults, you can use the best player for each type of video you watch.

Using the Finder's Default Apps Settings (macOS Ventura and Later)

If you are running macOS Ventura or a newer version, you also have the option to set a default video player through System Settings. Open System Settings, click General in the sidebar, then scroll down to Default apps. Look for video-related options and select your preferred player from the list.

This method sets a system-wide default for video files across your entire Mac, whereas the Info window method lets you be more selective about which formats use which player. Both approaches work; use whichever feels more natural to you. The Info window method gives you finer control, while System Settings is faster if you want one player to handle all video formats.

Common Reasons a Video File Opens in the Wrong Player

If you set a new default but videos still open in the old player, the most likely cause is that you did not click "Change All" in the Info window. Clicking only "Open" or "Open With" opens that single file without changing the default for future files. Go back to the Info window and make sure you clicked "Change All."

Another reason is that you changed the default for one format but the file you are testing is a different format. For example, if you changed the default for MP4 files but then tried to open an MKV file, it will still use whatever player was set for MKV. Check the file extension (the letters after the dot in the filename) to confirm you changed the right format.

If you recently installed a new player and it keeps trying to open your videos, that player may have automatically set itself as the default during installation. Return to the Info window and switch back to your preferred player, then click "Change All" again.

Video Players You Can Use as Defaults on Mac

QuickTime Player comes built into every Mac and handles MP4, MOV, and some other formats. It is straightforward and uses little computer power, but it does not support less common formats like MKV or AVI.

VLC is free and plays almost any video format you throw at it, including MKV, AVI, FLV, and many others. It is more powerful than QuickTime but uses more of your Mac's resources.

IINA is a lightweight player designed specifically for Mac that supports many formats and offers keyboard shortcuts and customization options. It is free and open-source.

Infuse is a paid player that handles a wide range of formats and includes features like metadata lookup and library organization. It works well if you have a large video collection.

Any of these can be set as your default using the Info window method described above. Your choice depends on which formats you watch most often and whether you prefer simplicity or extra features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different default player for each video file?

No, defaults are set by file format, not by individual file. All MP4 files will open in the same player unless you change the default again. However, you can right-click any video file and select "Open With" to open it in a different player just that one time without changing the default.

What if I want to go back to the original default player?

Open the Info window for any video file of that format, select the player you want to use, and click "Change All." You can switch back and forth between players as many times as you like. There is no limit to how many times you can change the default.

Does 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 file going forward. It does not change anything about the video files themselves or any playback history you have.

Why does my Mac keep opening videos in a player I did not choose?

Check that you clicked "Change All" and not just "Open." Also confirm you changed the default for the correct file format—check the file extension to be sure. If a newly installed player keeps taking over, go back to the Info window and reset your preferred player as the default.