How to change which app opens a file type
The steps depend on your operating system. On Windows, you right-click the file, select "Open with," then choose "Choose another app" and pick what you want. On Mac, you select the file, press Command+I to open Info, click the "Open with" dropdown, pick your app, then click "Change All" to apply it to every file of that type. On Linux, the method varies by desktop environment, but most let you right-click and select "Open with" or "Properties" to set a default.
The key difference across systems is whether you're changing the default for one file or for the entire file type. Most people want to change the type — so all PDFs open in a different reader, or all images open in a different viewer — rather than just one individual file.
Key Takeaways
- Windows lets you change defaults by right-clicking a file, selecting "Open with," then choosing an app and confirming the change.
- Mac requires you to open file Info, use the "Open with" dropdown, select your app, then click "Change All" to apply it to the whole file type.
- You can also change defaults through system settings on all three operating systems, which is faster if you want to change multiple file types at once.
- Some apps install themselves as the default when you first open them, so check your settings if an unexpected app suddenly opens your files.
Changing defaults in Windows settings
Windows 10 and 11 both have a Settings menu for default apps. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Default apps. You can search for a file type (like ".pdf" or ".mp3") and see which app is currently set to open it. Click the app name to see other options installed on your computer, then select the one you want.
This method is faster than right-clicking individual files if you need to change several defaults at once. You can also scroll through the list of file types and change them all in one place, rather than hunting for example files to right-click.
Changing defaults on Mac
Mac's approach is slightly different because it lives in the file's Info window rather than a separate settings panel. Find any file of the type you want to change — a PDF, an image, a video — and select it. Press Command+I or right-click and choose "Get Info." Look for the "Open with" section near the top, click the dropdown menu, and select the app you want to use.
The critical step is clicking "Change All" at the bottom of that section. If you skip this, you'll only change that one file, not the entire file type. After you click "Change All," every file of that type will open with your chosen app from that point forward.
Changing defaults on Linux
Linux desktop environments handle this differently depending on whether you use GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon, or another variant. In most cases, right-clicking a file and selecting "Open with" or "Properties" will show you a list of installed apps. Select the one you want and look for a button or checkbox that says "Set as default" or "Use as default application."
If that doesn't work, you can usually open your file manager's preferences or settings menu and find a "File Types" or "File Associations" section. Some Linux systems also let you edit a file called mimeapps.list in your home directory, but the graphical method is simpler if your desktop environment offers it.
What happens when an app installs itself as default
Some applications automatically set themselves as the default for certain file types when you first install them. This is common with media players, PDF readers, and image editors. If you suddenly notice a file type opening in an app you didn't choose, check your recent installations — the new app probably did this during setup.
You can change it back using the methods above. Some installers ask permission before changing defaults, while others do it silently. If you want to prevent this in the future, look for an "Advanced" or "Custom" installation option that lets you uncheck "Set as default application."
When you can't find the app you want
If the app you want to use doesn't appear in the "Open with" list, it may not be installed, or the system doesn't recognize it as capable of opening that file type. Try opening the app directly and looking for an "Open" or "Import" option in its menu — many apps can open files even if they're not registered as defaults.
If you've just installed an app and it's not showing up, restart your computer. Windows, Mac, and Linux all scan for newly installed applications at startup, and the app may not appear in the list until you reboot. If it still doesn't show after a restart, the app may not support that file type, or it may need to be installed differently.
File types that behave differently
Some file types don't follow the standard default-app rules. Web browsers, for example, often handle multiple file types — images, videos, PDFs, audio files — and changing the default for one doesn't always change it for the others. Compressed files like .zip or .rar may have their own extraction tools that take priority over general file handlers.
If you change a default and it doesn't seem to stick for certain files, check whether those files have a specific handler. You may need to change the default separately for each file type, or the app you chose may not fully support that format. Right-clicking and selecting "Open with" will always let you pick a different app for a single file, even if you can't change the system default.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my file keep opening in the wrong app after I change the default?
Some apps re-register themselves as the default when they update or run for the first time. Check your installed applications for recent updates, and look in the app's settings or preferences menu for an option like "Set as default" that may have been toggled back on. You may need to change the default again after updating the app.
Can I set different defaults for the same file type on different folders?
No. Default apps are set system-wide for each file type, not per folder. If you want one PDF reader for work files and another for personal files, you'll need to right-click and use "Open with" each time, or keep the files in different locations and change the default before opening them.
What if an app is installed but doesn't show up in the "Open with" list?
Restart your computer — the system scans for new apps at startup. If it still doesn't appear, the app may not be registered to handle that file type. Try opening the app directly and using its File menu to open the file instead. Some portable or older applications don't register themselves with the system.
Does changing the default app affect files I've already opened?
No. Changing the default only affects how files open going forward. Files you've already opened in a different app stay associated with that app in your recent files list, but new attempts to open that file type will use your new default.
Can I have multiple default apps for the same file type?
No. Only one app can be the default for each file type. However, you can always right-click a file and choose "Open with" to pick a different app without changing the system default. This is useful if you want one app as your default but occasionally need to open files in something else.