How to change the default program for a file type
The method depends on your operating system. On Windows, you right-click the file, select "Open with," then "Choose another app," and pick the program you want. On Mac, you select the file, press Command+I to open Get Info, change the "Open with" dropdown, then click "Change All" to apply it to every file of that type. On Linux, the steps vary by desktop environment, but most let you right-click and select a default from a menu.
These changes stick — once you set a program as default, that's what opens when you double-click any file of that type. You can change it back the same way anytime.
Key Takeaways
- Windows and Mac both let you change defaults by right-clicking a file and selecting a different program from the menu.
- On Windows, you can also change defaults for entire file types in Settings under Apps > Default Apps.
- On Mac, the "Change All" button applies your choice to every file with the same extension, not just that one file.
- Some programs claim file types when you install them; you may need to reclaim a type after uninstalling software you no longer use.
- If a program doesn't appear in the menu, you may need to browse your computer to find its executable file.
Windows: changing defaults through Settings
Windows lets you set defaults two ways. The faster route for a single file is to right-click it, select "Open with," then pick the program you want. A checkbox appears that says "Always use this app to open [file type]" — check it, and Windows remembers your choice.
If you want to change defaults for an entire file type at once, open Settings, go to Apps, then Default Apps. Search for the file extension (like .pdf or .docx) and you'll see what program currently opens it. Click the program name and a menu appears showing other options. Select the one you want and it becomes the new default for all files of that type.
Some programs don't appear in either menu. If that happens, right-click the file, select "Open with," then scroll to the bottom and click "More apps." If the program still doesn't show, click "Look for another app on this PC" and navigate to the program's folder — usually Program Files or Program Files (x86) — and select its executable file (the .exe file).
Mac: using Get Info to set defaults
On Mac, select any file of the type you want to change, then press Command+I (or right-click and select "Get Info"). A window opens showing file details. Find the "Open with" dropdown near the top and click it to see available programs. Select the one you want.
A button labeled "Change All" appears below the dropdown. Click it and Mac applies this choice to every file with the same extension on your computer. If you don't click "Change All," the change applies only to that single file, which is rarely what you want.
If the program you want doesn't appear in the dropdown, click the dropdown arrow and select "Other." A file browser opens — navigate to Applications, find the program, select it, and click Open. It will then appear in the dropdown for future use.
Linux: changing defaults by desktop environment
Linux handles defaults differently depending on which desktop environment you use — GNOME, KDE, Cinnamon, and others each have their own method. The most common approach is to right-click a file, select "Open With," and choose from the list. Some environments let you set a default from this menu; others require you to open the file manager's preferences or settings.
On GNOME-based systems, you can also open Settings, search for "Default Applications," and change what opens each file type from a central list. KDE users can right-click a file, select "Properties," go to the "Open With" tab, and choose a default from there.
If a program doesn't appear in any menu, you may need to edit a configuration file or use a tool like mimeapps.list in your .config folder. This is less common with modern distributions, but some older or minimal setups require it.
When a program claims a file type during installation
Many programs automatically set themselves as the default for certain file types when you install them. A web browser might claim .html files, a media player might claim .mp3 files, and a photo editor might claim .jpg files. If you later uninstall that program or want something else to open those files, you need to reclaim the file type manually.
The process is the same as changing any default — right-click a file of that type and select a different program. On Windows, you can also go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and search for the file extension to see what currently opens it and change it in one place.
What to do if the program you want doesn't appear
If you've installed a program but it doesn't show up in the "Open with" menu, the program may not have registered itself properly, or it may not support opening files from the file manager. Try opening the program directly and looking for an "Open" or "Open File" option in its menu — many programs let you set themselves as default from within their own settings.
On Windows, if a program still won't appear, try right-clicking the file, selecting "Open with," scrolling to the bottom, and clicking "More apps" or "Look for another app on this PC." Navigate to the program's installation folder (usually in Program Files) and select its main executable file. On Mac, use the "Other" option in the Get Info dropdown and navigate to Applications to find the program.
If the program is very old or was installed in an unusual location, you may need to search your computer for its executable file. On Windows, use File Explorer's search function; on Mac, use Spotlight (Command+Space); on Linux, use your file manager's search or the terminal command which followed by the program name.
Reverting to the original default
If you change a default and later want to go back, the process is the same — right-click a file of that type and select the original program. On Windows, if you can't remember what the original default was, you can reset all defaults to Windows' built-in choices by going to Settings > Apps > Default Apps and clicking "Reset" at the bottom (this option appears on some Windows versions).
On Mac, there's no built-in reset button, but you can usually find the original program by opening Get Info and looking through the "Open with" dropdown. Most file types have a macOS-provided option (like "Preview" for images or "TextEdit" for text files) that you can select to restore the original behavior.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the default program affect files I've already opened with something else?
No. Changing a default only affects what happens when you double-click a file going forward. Files you've already opened stay associated with whatever program opened them, but new files of that type will open with your new default.
Can I set different defaults for the same file type in different folders?
No. Defaults are system-wide — if you set .pdf files to open in Adobe Reader, that applies everywhere on your computer. You can still right-click any individual file and choose "Open with" to use a different program for that one file, but you can't create folder-specific defaults.
What if I want to open a file with a program that isn't installed?
You need to install the program first. Once it's installed, it will usually appear in the "Open with" menu automatically. If it doesn't, try opening the program directly and looking for a settings option to set it as the default for certain file types.
Does changing defaults affect how programs share files with each other?
Not usually. Changing what opens a .docx file doesn't prevent Word from sending files to Excel or other programs. Defaults only control what happens when you double-click a file in your file manager. Programs can still exchange files through their own menus and features.
Can I set multiple programs to open the same file type?
You can set only one default, but you can always right-click any file and choose "Open with" to pick a different program for that single file. If you frequently switch between programs for the same file type, this right-click method is faster than changing the default back and forth.