Open Different Apps on Mac: How To

Updated 7 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To open a different app on a Mac, you can click its icon in the Dock, use Spotlight (press Command+Space, type the app name, then press Return), or open it from the Applications folder in the Finder. If you want to open a file with a different app than the default, right-click (or Control-click) the file, select Open With, and choose the app you want.

Why You Might Need to Open a File in a Different App

macOS assigns a default app to every file type. For example, a .txt file opens in TextEdit, and a .jpg opens in Preview. But the default isn’t always the best choice for what you’re doing. You might want to:

Edit a photo in Pixelmator instead of Preview
Open a PDF in Adobe Acrobat instead of Preview
View a web page in a different browser
Open a Word document in Google Docs or LibreOffice

Changing the app for a single file is easy, but you can also change the default app for all files of that type.

How to Open a File with a Specific App

Right-click (or Control-click) the file in the Finder.
From the context menu, choose Open With.
Select the app you want from the submenu. If you don’t see it, click Other… to browse your Applications folder.

This opens the file once in that app. It doesn’t change the default for future files of the same type.

How to Set a New Default App for a File Type

If you always want a certain type of file to open in a specific app, you can change the default globally. Here’s how:

Right-click the file in the Finder.
Select Get Info (or press Command+I).
In the Info window, find the Open with section.
Click the dropdown and choose the app you want.
Click Change All… to apply this to all files of that type.

This is the most reliable way to change the default app. It’s especially useful for file types like .mp4 (video) or .html (web pages) where you might prefer a different player or editor.

Using the Open With Menu in the Toolbar

If you have a file selected in the Finder, you can also use the action button (the gear icon) in the toolbar. It gives you the same Open With options. This is handy when you’re in a folder and don’t want to right-click.

Opening Apps Directly (Not Files)

Sometimes you just want to launch an app that isn’t in your Dock. The fastest ways are:

Spotlight: Press Command+Space, type the app name, press Return.
Launchpad: Click the Launchpad icon in the Dock (or pinch with your trackpad) and click the app.
Applications folder: Open Finder, go to Applications in the sidebar, and double-click the app.

You can also drag an app from the Applications folder to the Dock to keep it there permanently.

Common Problems and Fixes

Sometimes opening a file with a different app doesn’t work as expected. Here are a few common issues:

The app doesn’t appear in the Open With list. Make sure the app is installed in the Applications folder. If it’s elsewhere, drag it there. Also, the app must be able to handle that file type. For example, a video editor won’t open a spreadsheet.
The file opens in the wrong app even after changing it. Check if you used Open With (one-time) instead of Get Info → Change All. The one-time option doesn’t stick.
You’re prompted to choose an app every time. This happens when the file type has no default app set. You can set one by following the Get Info steps above.
The app crashes when opening the file. The file may be corrupt, or the app may not fully support that file format. Try opening the file in a different app or converting it first.

Alternatives: Using Terminal or Automator

For more advanced control, you can use the Terminal command open -a to open a file with a specific app. For example:

open -a "Google Chrome" mypage.html

This is useful for scripting or when you’re already in the Terminal. Automator also lets you create a quick action that opens files with a chosen app, which you can then right-click on any file to use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I open a file with a different app on Mac?

Right-click the file, choose Open With, and select the app. For a permanent change, use Get Info and click Change All….

Why can’t I see the app I want in Open With?

The app might not be compatible with the file type, or it might not be installed in the Applications folder. Try dragging the app to Applications, or use Other… to browse for it.

How do I change the default app for all files of a certain type?

Right-click any file of that type, select Get Info, choose the app under Open with, then click Change All….

Can I open a file with a different app without changing the default?

Yes, right-click and choose Open With – that only affects that one file. The default remains unchanged.

What if the file opens in the wrong app and I can’t change it?

Try resetting the default by going to Get Info and selecting Other… to find the correct app. If that doesn’t work, restart your Mac and try again.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.