The quickest way to change a default program

Right-click the file you want to change, then select Open with from the menu that appears. A list of programs will show. Find the program you want to use, click it once, then look for a checkbox or option that says Always use this app or Set as default. Click that checkbox, then click Open. From now on, that file type will open with the program you chose.

This method works on Windows and Mac. The exact wording of the checkbox changes between versions, but the idea is the same: right-click, pick the program, check the "always use" box, and confirm. If you do not see a checkbox, the program may not support being set as default — in that case, use the Settings method described below instead.

If the program you want does not appear in the Open with menu, scroll down to Choose another app or More apps. This opens a longer list. If your program still does not appear, it may not be installed, or it may not be registered to open that file type — you would need to install it first or change the setting through the program itself.

Key Takeaways

  • Right-click any file, select Open with, pick your program, check Always use this app, and click Open to set a new default in one action.
  • If your program does not appear in the Open with menu, click Choose another app or More apps to see the full list.
  • On Windows, you can also change defaults through Settings by searching for Default apps and selecting the file type you want to change.
  • On Mac, right-click the file, select Get Info, change the program under Open with, then click Change All to explore it to all files of that type.
  • If a program will not set as default, it may not be installed or may not support that file type — check the program's settings or reinstall it.

Changing defaults through Windows Settings

If the right-click method does not work or you want to change the default for all files of a type at once, use the Settings app. Press the Windows key and type Default apps, then press Enter. A window opens showing file types and their current defaults.

Scroll down to find the file type you want to change — for example, .pdf for PDF files or .jpg for images. Click on the current program name. A menu appears with other programs that can open that type. Click the program you want to use. The change takes effect when ready, and all files of that type will now open with your chosen program.

If the program you want does not appear in this list, it may not be installed on your computer. Install it first, then return to Default apps and try again. Some programs do not register themselves as options for certain file types — if that happens, open the program itself, look for a Settings or Preferences menu, and search for an option like Set as default or Associate file types.

Changing defaults on Mac

On Mac, the process is slightly different. Find a file of the type you want to change, right-click it, and select Get Info. A window opens showing details about the file. Look for the section labeled Open with and click the dropdown menu next to it. Select the program you want to use.

After you choose the program, a button appears that says Change All. Click this button to explore the change to all files with the same extension — for example, all .docx files if you right-clicked a Word document. The change takes effect when ready. If you only click Open without clicking Change All, the file will open with that program once, but the default will not change.

If the program you want does not appear in the dropdown, it may not be installed or may not support that file type. Install the program first, then try again. Some programs, especially older ones, do not register with Mac's system — if that happens, you can still open files with that program by dragging them onto the program's icon in the Dock or Applications folder, but you cannot set it as the automatic default.

What to do if a program will not set as default

Some programs refuse to become the default for certain file types, even after you follow all the steps. This usually happens because the program is not installed correctly, does not support that file type, or is a web-based tool that cannot be set as a system default.

First, try uninstalling and reinstalling the program. read it from the official website, not from a third-party source, and follow the installation steps carefully. Some installers ask during setup whether you want to set the program as the default for certain file types — make sure you say yes if that option appears.

If reinstalling does not work, open the program itself and look for a Settings, Preferences, or Options menu. Many programs have their own section for file associations or default settings. If you find one, use it to tell the program which file types it should open. If the program still will not set as default after that, it may straightforward not support being a default process — in that case, you can still open files with it by right-clicking and choosing Open with each time.

Changing defaults for multiple file types at once

If you want to make one program the default for many file types — for example, setting a photo editor as the default for .jpg, .png, and .gif files — you can do this through Settings on Windows or through the program's own preferences on Mac.

On Windows, open Default apps again and look for an option that says Set defaults by app or Choose default apps by file type. Click on the program you want to set as default for multiple types. A list appears showing all the file types that program can open. Check the boxes next to each type you want to assign to it, then save your changes.

On Mac, some programs have their own settings panel where you can choose which file types they should open. Open the program, go to Preferences or Settings, and look for a section about file types or associations. If the program has this option, you can check multiple file types at once. If it does not, you will need to use the Get Info method separately for each file type.

Why your default keeps changing back

Sometimes you set a default program, but the next time you open a file of that type, a different program opens instead. This usually happens because another program you installed overwrote your choice, or because Windows or Mac updated and reset your defaults.

When you install a new program, it often asks to become the default for files it can open. If you say yes, it replaces whatever default you had set before. To prevent this, pay attention during installation and uncheck any boxes that say Set as default or Make this my default program.

If your defaults keep changing without you installing anything new, a program running in the background may be resetting them. This is rare but can happen with some browser toolbars or file management utilities. If you suspect this, check your installed programs list and uninstall anything you do not recognize or use. You can also set your defaults again and then check them a few days later to see if they have changed.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Yes. Each device has its own default settings. If you have a Windows computer and a Mac, you can set different programs as default on each one. Changes on one device do not affect the other. If you have multiple Windows computers, each one stores its own defaults separately unless you are signed into a Microsoft account that syncs settings — even then, you can override the synced setting on any individual device.

What if I want to open a file with a different program just one time?

Right-click the file and select Open with, then pick the program you want. Do not check the Always use this app box. The file will open with that program once, but your default will not change. The next time you open a file of that type, it will use your original default program.

Does changing the default program affect files I already have?

No. Changing the default only affects how new files open. Files you already have will still work the same way. If you have a PDF that used to open in one program, changing the default PDF program will not change how that specific file opens — but the next PDF you open will use the new default.

Can I set a web browser as the default for opening links?

Yes, but the process is different from setting defaults for file types. On Windows, open Default apps and look for Web browser near the top of the list. Click it and choose the browser you want. On Mac, open a web browser, go to Preferences, and look for an option to set it as the default browser. Some browsers do this automatically when you install them.

Why does my program not appear in the Open with menu?

The program may not be installed, or it may not be registered to open that file type. Try installing the program again from the official website. If it still does not appear, the program may not support that file type — check the program's documentation or website to confirm. You can also try opening the program first, then using its File or Open menu to browse for the file you want to open.