Choose an app to open a file on Mac

You can select which app you use to open a file. This is useful if you prefer to use a certain app, or if you don’t have the app that was used to create the file.

Open a file once with a specific app

On your Mac, do one of the following:

Drag the file onto the app icon in the Finder or the Dock.
Select the file in the Finder, choose File > Open With, then choose an app.
Control-click the file, choose Open With, then choose an app.
Open the app, then choose File > Open.

Permanently change the app used to open a file

On your Mac, click the Finder icon in the Dock to open a Finder window.
Select the file, then choose File > Get Info.
You can also Control-click the file, then choose Get Info.
In the Info window, click the arrow next to “Open with.”
Click the pop-up menu, then choose the app.
To open all files of this type with this app, click Change All.

If you can’t open a file with a specific app, the file may be damaged or may not be recognized by that app. Try opening it with a different app.

Helpful?

macOS User Guide

Choose an app to open a file on Mac

Open a file once with a specific app

Permanently change the app used to open a file