The quickest way to change a default app

On Windows, right-click the file you want to change, select Open with, then choose Choose another app. Find the program you want to use in the list, check the box that says Always use this app to open [file type], and click Open. That single action changes the default for every file of that type on your computer.

On Mac, click the file once to select it, then go to File > Get Info. Under Open with, click the dropdown menu and pick your program. Click Change All to explore this to every file of the same type. Close the window when you're done.

Both methods work when ready and don't require restarting your computer. The change takes effect the next time you open a file of that type by double-clicking it.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click a file, select Open with, choose your program, and check Always use this app to change the default on Windows.
  • On Mac, select the file, go to File > Get Info, pick a program from the Open with dropdown, and click Change All.
  • The program you choose must already be installed on your computer; you cannot set a default for software that doesn't exist.
  • Changing a default applies to all files of that type, not just the one you right-clicked.
  • If the program you want doesn't appear in the list, you may need to browse your computer to find its installation folder.

Finding a program that isn't in the list

If the app you want to use doesn't show up in the Open with menu, it may not be installed, or Windows and Mac may not recognize it as capable of opening that file type. On Windows, click Look for another app on this PC at the bottom of the Open with menu. A file browser opens; navigate to the program's installation folder (usually Program Files or Program Files (x86)) and select the executable file—the one with a .exe extension.

On Mac, the process is similar. In the Get Info window, click the dropdown next to Open with and select Other. A file browser appears. Navigate to Applications, find your program, and double-click it. Mac will then add it to the list for that file type.

Once you've selected the program this way, check Always use this app (Windows) or click Change All (Mac) to make it the permanent default.

Changing defaults for different file types

A single program can be the default for some file types but not others. For example, you might want Adobe Reader to open PDF files, but a different program to open text files. Each file type has its own default setting, and changing one doesn't affect the others.

To change defaults for multiple file types, repeat the right-click or Get Info process for each one. If you want one program to handle many file types at once, some applications offer a Set as default option in their own settings menu. Open the program, look for Settings, Preferences, or Options, and search for language like default file associations or file type associations. This method is faster if you're switching several file types to the same program.

What to do if a file won't open with your chosen program

If you've set a default but the file still opens in a different program, the file may be corrupted, or the program you chose may not actually support that file type. Try opening the program first, then using its File > Open menu to navigate to the file manually. If it opens this way, the default setting is working; if it doesn't, the program cannot read that file.

Another reason a file might not open is if the program is no longer installed. If you uninstalled software after setting it as a default, Windows and Mac will fall back to another program instead. You can reset the default to a program that's currently installed using the same right-click or Get Info method.

If a file type has no default set at all, Windows will show you a list of programs to choose from each time you double-click it. This is normal and not a problem—you can set a default at any point by checking Always use this app.

Resetting defaults to what they were before

On Windows 10 and 11, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps. Scroll down and click Reset next to any app you want to remove as a default. Windows will then ask you to choose a new default the next time you open that file type. You can also click on a specific file type (like .pdf or .docx) to see what's currently set and change it from this screen.

On Mac, there is no single reset button. Instead, open Get Info for a file of the type you want to change, click the Open with dropdown, select the program you prefer, and click Change All. If you want to return to the original default, you'll need to remember what it was or look it up for your version of macOS.

Why some programs don't appear as options

Windows and Mac maintain a list of programs that can open each file type. A program only appears in the Open with menu if it has registered itself as capable of handling that type. Some portable programs or older software may not register themselves, which is why they don't show up even though they're installed.

If you frequently use a program that doesn't appear in the list, check its settings menu for an option like Set as default or Associate file types. Running the program's installer again (even if it's already installed) sometimes registers it properly. If neither of those works, you can still open files with that program by launching the program first and using its File > Open menu, even if it's not the default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set different defaults for the same file type on different drives?

No. A default app setting applies to all files of that type on your entire computer, regardless of which drive or folder they're stored on. If you need different programs to handle the same file type in different situations, you'll need to open files manually using File > Open inside the program you want to use.

What happens if I delete a program that's set as a default?

Windows and Mac will stop using it as the default and fall back to another program that can open that file type. The next time you double-click a file of that type, you may see a dialog asking you to choose a program, or it may open in whatever the system considers the next best option. You can then set a new default.

Does changing the default app affect files I've already opened?

No. Changing a default only affects files you open going forward. Files you've already opened in a different program will stay associated with that program in your recent files list, but double-clicking them will now use the new default.

Can I set a default app for a file type that doesn't have one yet?

Yes. If a file type has never been assigned a default, Windows will show you a list of available programs the first time you try to open it. Choose the one you want and check Always use this app to make it the permanent default.

Why does my program keep asking me to set it as default every time I open it?

Some programs ask for permission to become the default even after you've already set them as one. This is usually a setting within the program itself. Open the program's Settings or Preferences and look for an option to disable startup prompts or stop asking about default associations.