How to Change the Default Program to Open a File With
So you don’t have to do it every time
Every file on your PC has a program out there to open it. If the software isn’t installed, your system will tell you so, and will ask for instructions on what software it should try to use to open it. Windows, macOS and other platforms match certain file extensions to default programs. If the software isn’t there, the files can’t open.
That’s whyMicrosoft Wordopens when you try to open a DOCX file if you have Microsoft Office installed. If you’d prefer to open that file in another program likeLibreOfficeinstead, then you’ll need to change the default program in Windows 10 or macOS for that file type.
How To Change Default Program in Windows 10
Changing file associations in Windows 10 is pretty easy to do, and there are a couple of ways in which you can do it.
Some types of software, such as web browsers, aren’t usually used to open files on your PC, making it difficult to use the above method to change the default program. You may also be looking for a method to change multiple file types at once, which you may do if you’re changing the default media player on your PC, for instance.
In both cases, you’ll need to change the default program for your file or web protocol in the Windows Settings menu instead.
How To Change Default Program in macOS
If you want to change the default program on a Mac, you’ll need a file in the file format you’re looking to open.
Replacing Old Software on Windows and macOS
If you want to change the default program in Windows 10 or macOS, you’ll need software installed to replace it. You could look to replace outdated paid software with newer, more up-to-dateopen-source softwarealternatives that won’t cost you anything to install or use.
Replacing older software on macOS is a little trickier, as you may find that equivalents to the software you’re happy using just doesn’t exist, especially if you’re switching from Windows. If you’re having trouble, you may need to allow unverified apps to install, but make sure that you only install software from sources you trust.
Ben Stockton is a freelance technology writer based in the United Kingdom. In a past life, Ben was a college lecturer in the UK, training teens and adults. Since leaving the classroom, Ben has taken his teaching experience and applied it to writing tech how-to guides and tutorials, specialising in Linux, Windows, and Android. He has a degree in History and a postgraduate qualification in Computing.Read Ben’s Full Bio
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