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Mac OS X Tip: Change Default App To Open a File

For many different reasons, you may want to change the default app that opens a certain type of files on your Mac.

For this example, I am going to use a music (m4a) file. This type of file opens by default with iTunes. This may be handy if you have all your songs in iTunes, but it's not always convenient. Plus, also by default, imported files into iTunes make a copy in the iTunes Music folder, doubling up files on your Mac. But that's for another day.

So, instead of opening iTunes when I open a music file of the extension M4A, I want to use the Quicktime player.

To change the default opening app to a different application: 


1. Right click (Control Click) a file of the file type you want to change.

2. Select "Get Info".

3. Under "Open with" heading, click on the default application.

4. Now select the new application you want the file to open with.

5. If you want this file type to always open with the new app you chose, now click the "Change All..." button and confirm.


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