macOS · Apps
Manage General Settings and Default Apps on Mac
The General settings pane covers system-wide basics like software update, storage, and login items, while default app settings let you choose which app opens web links, email, and specific file types instead of relying on Apple's built-in apps.
How to open General & Default Apps
- Select a file of the type you want to change and press Command-I to open Get Info.
- Choose your preferred app from the 'Open with' dropdown.
- Click 'Change All...' to apply that app to every file of the same type.
- For default browser or email, open the app's own Settings/Preferences and look for a 'Default' option, or set it in System Settings.
What you should know
- Set default apps for web browsing, email, and other link types independent of which app is installed most recently.
- Change the default app for an individual file type via Get Info → Open With → Change All.
- AirDrop and Handoff visibility and behavior are configured from the same General area.
- Storage recommendations and optimization options live under General → Storage.
Changing a file type's default app with 'Change All' applies to every existing file of that type system-wide, not just the one you right-clicked — double check before confirming if you only meant to open a single file differently.
Why it matters
Default apps determine what happens every time you click a link, open an attachment, or double-click a document, so a mismatched default (like PDFs opening in the wrong app) creates small annoyances dozens of times a day. General settings also bundle together several system-wide basics — storage, AirDrop, Handoff — that don't fit neatly elsewhere but affect daily usability. Getting default apps set correctly once saves the repeated friction of manually choosing 'Open With' every time you interact with a particular file type. This is also one of the first things worth checking after installing a new browser or PDF reader, since installers don't always ask before changing defaults.
Best practices
- Set your preferred web browser and email client explicitly rather than assuming the newest-installed app is correct.
- Use Get Info → Change All deliberately, confirming you actually want every file of that type affected before clicking it.
- Revisit default apps after installing a new browser, PDF reader, or code editor, since some installers change defaults automatically without asking clearly.
- Turn off AirDrop or restrict it to Contacts Only under General if you don't want to receive files from strangers nearby.
- Check General → Storage periodically for optimization recommendations if your Mac's disk is getting full.
Common problems and fixes
- Links keep opening in the wrong browser after installing a new one.
- Open the browser you want as default, check its own Settings for a 'Make Default Browser' option, or in some versions of macOS set it directly from Desktop & Dock → Default web browser.
- PDFs or images open in an unexpected app despite changing the default once.
- Confirm you clicked 'Change All' (not just changed the single file) in Get Info's Open With section, since only 'Change All' updates every file of that type system-wide.
- AirDrop isn't visible to a nearby device even though both are online.
- Check that AirDrop's visibility is set to 'Everyone' or 'Contacts Only' (with both devices signed in to Apple Accounts that know each other) rather than 'No One', under General → AirDrop & Handoff.
Tips and tricks
- Hold Option while right-clicking a file to reveal an 'Always Open With' quick option in some macOS versions, skipping the full Get Info panel.
- Use Quick Look (press Space on a selected file) to confirm what a file actually is before deciding which app should open it by default.
Frequently asked questions
Does changing a file's default app move or convert the file itself?
No, changing a default app only changes which app opens the file when double-clicked — the file's format and location stay exactly the same.
Can I set a different default app for just one file, without changing every file of that type?
Yes, use 'Open With' (not 'Change All') from the right-click menu or Get Info for a one-time or single-file-only override.
Where do I set my default browser if it's not listed under Desktop & Dock?
On some macOS versions, default browser and email app are set from within the browser or Mail app's own preferences instead of System Settings directly — look for a 'Default' or 'Make Default' option there.
Related settings
- Login Items & ExtensionsLogin Items & Extensions settings control which apps and documents open automatically when you log in, plus which system extensions — like Finder add-ons, sharing options, and background helper processes — are allowed to run.
- Desktop & DockDesktop & Dock settings control the size, position, and behavior of the Dock, along with desktop options like Stage Manager, widgets, and how windows and Mission Control behave. It's the main place to make the Dock and desktop work the way you want.
- Software UpdateSoftware Update in System Settings keeps macOS current with the latest security fixes, features, and app compatibility improvements. Regular updates help keep your Mac fast, stable, and protected.
More Apps guides for macOS
- Mission Control & SpacesMission Control gives you a bird's-eye view of every open window and virtual desktop (called a Space) on your Mac, so you can quickly find a window or switch contexts. Spaces let you group apps by project or activity instead of piling every window onto one desktop.
- Siri & SpotlightSiri settings control your Mac's voice assistant — activation phrase, voice, and language — while Spotlight settings determine what shows up when you search with Command-Space, including which categories of results and suggestions appear.
- ExtensionsExtensions settings let you enable or disable add-ons that other apps install into Finder, the Share menu, Today widgets, and other system surfaces, giving you control over what third-party code can hook into.
- Passwords AppThe Passwords app provides a dedicated interface for viewing, organizing, and sharing the passwords, passkeys, Wi-Fi passwords, and verification codes stored in iCloud Keychain, separate from Safari's AutoFill settings.
- Game ControllersGame Controllers settings let you pair Bluetooth controllers such as PlayStation DualSense, Xbox Wireless Controllers, and MFi controllers with your Mac, and customize button mapping for supported games.
- Universal ControlUniversal Control lets you use a single keyboard and mouse or trackpad to work seamlessly across a Mac and a nearby iPad or second Mac, and drag content such as files and images between them.