The fastest way depends on your device
On Windows, right-click the file, select "Open with," then choose a program from the list. If the program you want is not there, click "Choose another app" at the bottom, scroll down, and select "Look for another app on this PC" to browse your installed programs. On Mac, click the file once, press Command+I to open Info, click the dropdown next to "Open with," and select the program you want. On both systems, you can also set a default so every file of that type opens the same way going forward.
The one-time method (right-click and choose) works when you only want to open one file differently. The permanent method (setting a default) works when you want all files of that type to open in a new program from now on. Most people use both depending on the situation.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click a file and select "Open with" to open it in a different program just that one time without changing your defaults.
- If your preferred program does not appear in the "Open with" menu, click "Choose another app" (Windows) or scroll to the bottom (Mac) to find it.
- To change the default program for all files of that type, right-click, select "Open with," then choose "Always use this app" or the equivalent option.
- On Windows, you can also change defaults through Settings > Apps > Default apps, which shows all file types and their current programs in one place.
- Some programs (like web browsers or media players) may ask to become your default when you first open them, which is another way to change the setting.
Opening one file in a different program on Windows
Right-click the file you want to open. A menu will appear. Click "Open with" and you will see a short list of programs. If the program you want is in that list, click it and the file opens when ready. If it is not there, click "Choose another app" at the bottom of the menu.
A larger window will open showing more programs. Scroll down to find the one you want. Once you click it, the file opens in that program. This does not change your default — the next time you double-click a file of the same type, it will still open in whatever program was set before.
Opening one file in a different program on Mac
Click the file once to select it. Press Command+I (or right-click and select "Get Info"). A window will open. Look for the line that says "Open with:" and click the dropdown menu next to it. You will see a list of programs that can open this file type.
Click the program you want. The file opens in that program. Like Windows, this is a one-time choice — your default does not change. If you want to set a new default for all files of this type, see the next section.
Setting a new default program on Windows
Right-click the file and select "Open with." Choose the program you want to use. Before clicking it, look for a checkbox that says "Always use this app to open [file type]" or similar wording. Check that box, then click the program name. Now every file of that type will open in this program by default.
If you do not see that checkbox, you can change defaults another way. Open Settings, go to Apps, then Default apps. Scroll down to "File type associations" and click the file type you want to change (like .pdf or .mp3). A list of programs will appear. Click the one you want to set as default.
Setting a new default program on Mac
Click the file once to select it. Press Command+I to open Info. Find the "Open with:" line and click the dropdown. Select the program you want. Below the dropdown, you will see a button that says "Change All." Click it. A confirmation window will appear asking if you want to change all files of this type to open with the new program. Click "Continue" to confirm.
After you click "Continue," every file of that type will open in the new program by default. If you change your mind later, you can repeat these steps and choose a different program.
What to do if your program does not appear in the list
If the program you want is not showing up when you click "Open with," it may not be installed, or the system does not recognize it as able to open that file type. First, check that the program is actually installed on your computer. Open your Applications folder (Mac) or Programs folder (Windows) and look for it.
If the program is installed but still does not appear, try opening the program itself first, then opening the file from inside the program using File > Open. This often works even when the file type is not registered in the system. Some programs also have a settings menu where you can tell them to associate with certain file types — check the program's preferences or settings.
Why some programs ask to be your default
When you first open certain programs like web browsers, email clients, or media players, they may show a notification asking if you want to make them your default. This is the program offering to set itself as the default for files it can open. You can click "Yes" to accept or "Not now" to skip it.
You can change this choice anytime using the methods above. Programs ask because many people prefer to use one browser or one media player for everything, and the program is making that easier. You are never required to say yes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the default program affect files I already have?
No. Changing the default only affects how files open going forward. Files you already have are not modified. If you change your mind and switch back to the old program, your files will still be there and unchanged.
What if I want different programs to open the same file type in different situations?
You can always right-click and choose "Open with" to pick a different program for that one file. You do not have to use the default every time. The default is just what happens when you double-click — you can override it anytime.
Can I undo a default change?
Yes. Use the same steps you used to set the new default, but choose the old program instead. On Windows, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. On Mac, use Command+I and click "Change All" with the old program selected. The change takes effect when ready.
Why does my program not open the file correctly even after I set it as default?
Some file types can be opened by multiple programs, but not all programs handle every variation of that type. For example, some PDF readers do not display complex forms correctly. If a program opens the file but displays it wrong, try a different program using "Open with" to see if another one works better.
Do I need to restart my computer after changing a default?
No. The change takes effect when ready on both Windows and Mac. You can double-click a file right away and it will open in the new default program.