How To Manage Default Applications on Mac

Every user-friendly operating system comes with a set of default applications that can handle opening and operating the most popular file types and essential activities, such as opening websites. The macOS on your Mac is no different. If you have found a better application than the one that is set as the default one currently, you can change it by following the steps outlined below. 

Changing Default Applications

1. Navigate to a file with the extension that you wish to set a new default app for.
2. Right-click that file. 
3. Select the 'Get Info' option. You should be presented either with a pop-up or a dropdown menu containing more information about the selected file. 
4. Locate the 'Open With' option. 
5. A dropdown containing a list of apps that can handle this file type should appear.
6. Pick the one that you wish to be set as default and click 'Change All.

Changing the Default Web Browser

In almost all cases, the default Web browser for macOS is going to be Safari. Users who wish to set a different browser as the default for their system can do so by following the steps:

1. Start 'System  Preferences' by clicking its icon on the Dock or going to the Apple menu and selecting 'System Preferences' there. 
2. Select 'General' in the top-left portion of the window.
3. Click on the dropdown menu located next to 'Default Web Browser.'
4. Select a new default browser from the ones available in the list or download a new one, then select it by following the same steps.