The fastest way to change a file's default program
Right-click the file you want to change, then select Open with or Open with > from the menu. A list of programs appears. Click the program you want to use. On Windows, look for an option that says Choose another app or Always use this app — selecting that checkbox makes the change permanent for all files of that type.
On a Mac, right-click the file, select Open With, then pick the program. If you want this program to open all files like this one from now on, hold down the Option key while clicking Open With, then select Always Open With.
This method works for individual files, but it also changes the default for every file with the same extension — a .txt file, a .jpg image, or a .pdf document. If you only want to open one specific file differently and leave the default alone, just pick the program from the menu without checking the "always" option.
Key Takeaways
- Right-click any file, select Open with, pick a program, and check Always use this app to make the change permanent on Windows.
- On a Mac, right-click, select Open With, hold Option, then click Always Open With to set a new default.
- Changing the default for one file type changes it for all files with the same extension, so all .pdf files will open in your chosen program.
- If you want to open just one file in a different program without changing the default, skip the "always" step and open it once.
Changing defaults through Settings on Windows
If the right-click menu does not show the program you want, or if you prefer to set defaults in one place, use Windows Settings. Open Settings, then go to Apps > Default apps. Scroll down to find the file type you want to change — look for the extension like .pdf, .jpg, or .docx.
Click the file type, and a window opens showing programs that can open it. Select the program you want to use as the default. Windows remembers this choice and applies it to all files of that type going forward.
This method is useful when you have installed a new program and want to set it as the default before you open any files, or when the right-click menu is not showing all your options. You can also change defaults back to what Windows suggests if you want to undo a previous change.
Changing defaults on a Mac through System Settings
On a Mac, open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions), then select General in the sidebar. Scroll down to Default apps or Default web browser depending on what you want to change.
For file types, you may need to use a different path: go to System Settings > General > File & Folder Sharing, or use Finder to right-click a file and access Get Info. In the Get Info window, find the Open with section, select your preferred program from the dropdown, then click Change All to explore it to all files of that type.
Mac does not always list every program in the default apps menu, so the right-click method is often faster. If you cannot find a program in Settings, go back to right-clicking the file and choosing it from the Open With menu instead.
When a program does not appear in the list
If the program you want to use does not show up in the Open with menu, the program may not be installed correctly, or it may not be registered to open that file type. Try opening the program directly, then look for a menu option like File > Open or Preferences > File Types. Many programs have a settings area where you can tell them which file types to handle.
On Windows, you can also browse for a program manually. Right-click the file, select Open with > Choose another app, scroll to the bottom, and click Look for another app on this PC. Navigate to the program's installation folder (usually in Program Files or Program Files (x86)) and select the executable file — usually the one with a .exe extension.
On a Mac, right-click the file, select Open With > Other, then navigate to the Applications folder and select the program you want. This method works even if the program does not appear in the standard list.
Undoing a change and returning to the original default
If you change the default and later want to go back, the process is the same as setting a new default. Right-click a file of that type, select Open with, and choose the original program you want to use. On Windows, check Always use this app. On a Mac, hold Option and select Always Open With.
On Windows, you can also reset to Microsoft's recommended defaults. Open Settings > Apps > Default apps, scroll down, and look for a button that says Reset to Microsoft recommended defaults or similar. This returns all file types to what Windows suggests, though it may not be what you originally had if you made changes before.
There is no harm in changing defaults back and forth. You can experiment with different programs and switch whenever you want. The only limitation is that you can only set one default program per file type at a time — you cannot make two programs share the role.
File types that behave differently
Some file types do not follow the standard default-program rules. Web browsers handle .html files and links differently than other programs do, and changing the default browser in Settings does not always change which program opens .html files on your computer. If you want to change which program opens a web page file, right-click it directly and use the Open with menu.
Archive files like .zip or .rar may open in a file manager by default rather than a dedicated program. If you want them to open in a specific archive manager, right-click the file and set the default through Open with. Some programs, like video editors or image software, may also ask for permission the first time you open a file type, and you can choose to make that program the default at that moment.
If a file type does not seem to be changing no matter what you do, check whether the program you want is actually installed and up to date. Uninstalling and reinstalling the program sometimes fixes registration issues that prevent it from appearing in the default-program list.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the default program affect files I already have?
Yes. When you set a new default, all existing files of that type will open in the new program the next time you double-click them. Files you created with the old program are not changed — only which program opens them by default.
Can I set different defaults for the same file type on different folders?
No. Windows and Mac both set one default per file type across your entire computer. If you want one .pdf file to open in a different program, right-click it and select Open with without checking the "always" option — that opens only that file in the chosen program.
What if I want to open a file with a program that is not installed?
You need to install the program first. read it from the developer's website or an app store, complete the installation, then use the right-click menu or Settings to set it as the default. Once installed, it should appear in the Open with list.
Does changing the default program delete the old one?
No. Setting a new default program does not uninstall or remove the old one. Both programs stay on your computer. You can still open files with the old program by right-clicking and choosing it from the menu, or you can switch the default back anytime.
Why do some programs ask to be the default when I first open them?
Many programs check whether they are the default for their file types when they launch. If they are not, they offer to become the default. You can accept or decline. Declining does not prevent you from using the program — it just means it will not automatically open files of that type.