Change the default app you use to open a file. Sometimes, you may want an app to open certain file types by default. For example, use VLC to open all.avi files instead of QuickTime, which will not play them for you. Or as I said before, open all the presentations you receive or download in Keynote, and forget about PowerPoint.
You may want to use the apps you like to open files instead of the built-in apps on Mac, and set a new default app to open the files at this time. If you don't know how to set Mac app as default for specific file types, this guide will show you how to set it up. You May like: Part 1. How to Change The Default App for Specific File Only Step 1. Find the specific file you want to change default app for, and then Right–click the file you need.
Press the 'Alt' key on your keyboard, and then make the 'Open with' option become 'Always Open Up'.
Change Default App extension For this example I’ll change default video player from QuickTime to MPlayerX. Unfortunately there is no way to just set MPlayerX to just be the default player for all video files and their respective extensions. It has to be done, extension by extension.
First thing you’re going to want to do is find a file that has the extension that you want to change the default application for. All you need to do to change the default application is:. Right-click (control-click) on a file with the extension that you are wanting to change. Select “Get Info”. Located “Open with:”.
Choose your desired default application. Now a choice, do you want to change the file association for just this file, or do you want to change the file association for all files with this extensions?. To apply it across all files with that extension make sure you click “Change All” Tips to make the process simpler You may be thinking that the above is tedious, and truthfully it is. I’d like to see a better way of managing the default application, however until then here are some: More Tips: By default on Mac common filename extensions are hidden in Finder. To show all filename extensions:. Open Finder.
From the menu bar select Finder - Preferences. Click the “Advanced” tab.
Enable “Show all filename extensions” Even after you’ve changed the default application that opens you can still override the setting and choose another app. Right-click file. Choose “Open With”. This doesn’t change the default.
Do you have duplicate entries? Your desired app not listed?. If your desired app isn’t listed in the “Get Info” window, then choose “Other”. Navigate to the applications location (usually the Applications folder) and select it.
Even More Tips: Find a new (or better) application by file extension. Right-click file - Get info - and select “Open with:”. Select App Store. This will show application in the Mac App Store that can be used with that specific extension. It’s a great way to find new and sometimes better applications.
Not all applications require these methods. Some apps are awesome enough to give you the choice of which extensions you want them to be associated with by default. If you want to set a new app to be the default, always check to preferences first.