Opening files with different applications

When you open a file in macOS, it will usually open in the default application for that type of file . For example, a photo will open in Preview . But you may not always want this. In this lesson, we'll show you how to open a file in a different application , as well as how to change the default application so a file will always open in your preferred program.

Opening a file in the default application

As you learned in our lesson on working with files , you can locate and double-click a file to open it. It will open in the default application for that type of file.

To open a file in a different application:

Sometimes you may want to open a file in a different application without changing the default . For example, you may want to open a photo with Adobe Photoshop to crop or resize it.

1. Locate and right-click the desired file. From the drop-down menu, select Open With and choose the desired application . In this example, we'll select Adobe Photoshop Elements Editor .
   
2. The file will open in the selected application.
   

To change the default application:

You may prefer to change the default application for certain types of files so they'll always open in the new app when you double-click them. For example, you may want your photos to always open in Adobe Photoshop instead of the Preview application.

1. Locate and right-click the desired file, then select Get Info from the menu that appears. You can also select the file and press Command+I on your keyboard.
   
2. A dialog box will appear. Under Open with , click the drop-down menu and select the desired application . In our example, we'll select Adobe Photoshop Elements Editor .
   

   
   

3. Click Change All .
   
4. A dialog box will appear confirming that you want to change the default application for all files of this file type. Click Continue .
   
5. The default application will be changed. The next time you double-click a file of that type, it will open in the new default application.