How to Change Default Programs on Mac
Are you tired of the same programs automatically opening when you double-click on a file or document? Changing default programs on your Mac is a simple process that can help streamline your workflow and enhance your overall experience. In this article, we will guide you through the steps to change default programs on your Mac, so you can enjoy the convenience of opening files with your preferred applications.
Step 1: Identify the file type and desired application
Before you can change the default program for a specific file type, you need to know the type of file you want to modify and the application you want to use to open it. For example, if you want to open PDF files with Adobe Acrobat instead of Preview, you will need to identify the .pdf file extension and locate Adobe Acrobat on your Mac.
Step 2: Open the ‘Get Info’ window
To change the default program, you need to open the ‘Get Info’ window for the file type you want to modify. There are two ways to do this:
1. Right-click (or control-click) on the file type’s icon and select ‘Get Info’ from the context menu.
2. Select the file type’s icon, then press Command + I on your keyboard.
Step 3: Navigate to the ‘Open with’ section
Once the ‘Get Info’ window is open, scroll down to the ‘Open with’ section. Here, you will see the current default application for the file type. To change this, click on the dropdown menu and select the desired application from the list. If your preferred application is not listed, you can add it by clicking the ‘Other…’ button and browsing for the application on your Mac.
Step 4: Set the new default program
After selecting the desired application, click the ‘Change All…’ button to set it as the default program for all files of that type. If you only want to change the default program for the current file, click the ‘Change…’ button instead.
Step 5: Confirm the change
A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you want to change the default program for all files of this type. Click ‘OK’ to confirm the change.
Step 6: Test the new default program
To ensure that the change has been applied successfully, try opening a file of the modified type with your new default program. If everything works as expected, you have successfully changed the default program on your Mac.
Conclusion
Changing default programs on your Mac is a straightforward process that can improve your productivity and user experience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can easily customize your Mac to open files with your preferred applications. Enjoy the convenience of having your Mac work the way you want it to!
