To change the default media player on a Mac, select a video or audio file in Finder, press Command-I to open Get Info, choose a new app under Open with, and click Change All. From then on, every file of that type (for example, every .mp4 file) opens in the app you picked instead of QuickTime Player.
macOS has no single “default media player” switch. Defaults are set per file type, so you repeat the steps once for each format you use, such as .mp4, .mov, .mkv or .mp3. If you only want to open one file in a different player, you can do that without changing any defaults.
Quick Answer
- In Finder, click once on a media file of the type you want to change (for example, an .mp4 video).
- Press Command-I, or right-click the file and choose Get Info.
- Click the arrow next to Open with to expand that section.
- Choose your preferred player from the menu.
- Click Change All so every file of that type uses the new player.
- Repeat for each other format (.mov, .mkv, .mp3 and so on).
In This Guide
- Before you start
- Change the default player for a file type
- Change the player for one file only
- Open a file in a different player just once
- Which media player should you use?
- Switch back to QuickTime Player
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Before You Start
This guide applies to current versions of macOS, as of September 2026. The Get Info method has been part of Finder for many years, so the steps are the same on most Macs. Here’s what you need:
- The player you want is installed. Get the new app first, from the Mac App Store or the developer’s official website, and move it to your Applications folder. An app that isn’t installed won’t appear in the Open with menu.
- A sample file of each format you play. Because defaults are set per file type, you need one file of each type to change it. If you’re not sure of a file’s type, select it and press Command-I. The Kind line in the Get Info window shows the format.
- File extensions (optional). An extension is the short code after the dot in a file name, like .mp4. Seeing extensions makes it easier to tell formats apart. Here’s how to show filename extensions in Finder on a Mac.
A quick definition: QuickTime Player is the video and audio player built into macOS. It typically handles common Apple-friendly formats such as .mov and .mp4, which is why most videos open in it until you change the default.
Change the Default Player for a File Type
This is the method Apple documents for making all files of a certain type open with the app you choose. It’s the one to use if you want every .mp4 (or every .mkv, and so on) to open in a new player automatically.
- Open Finder and find a video or audio file of the type you want to change.
- Click the file once to select it. Don’t double-click, or it will open in the current player.
- Choose File > Get Info from the menu bar, press Command-I, or right-click (Control-click) the file and choose Get Info. Expected result: an Info window opens with sections such as General, More Info and Open with.
- If the Open with section is collapsed, click the arrow next to it to expand it.
- Click the pop-up menu under Open with and choose the player you want. If it isn’t listed, look for an Other option at the bottom of the menu, which lets you browse your Applications folder (the exact wording can vary by macOS version).
- Warning: the next step changes the default for every file of this type on your Mac. Click Change All. If macOS asks you to confirm, click Continue. Expected result: files of this type now open in the new player, and their icons may change to match it.
- Close the Info window and double-click any file of that type to confirm it opens in the new player.
Apple’s official instructions are in Choose an app to open a file on Mac. The same process works for any file type, not just media. For example, it’s how you make Word the default app on a Mac for .docx files.
Repeat for each format
Changing the default for .mp4 does not change .mov, .mkv, .avi, .mp3 or .m4a files. Repeat the steps with one file of each format you use. A common setup is to switch all your video formats to one player and leave audio alone, or the reverse.
Change the Player for One File Only
Sometimes you want one specific file, such as a movie with subtitles, to always open in a particular player while everything else stays the same.
- Select the file in Finder and press Command-I.
- Under Open with, choose the player.
- Close the Info window without clicking Change All. Expected result: only this file opens in the new player; other files of the same type keep the old default.
Open a File in a Different Player Just Once
If you only need a different player now and then, you don’t have to change any defaults. Apple lists several ways to open a file with a specific app one time:
- Right-click (Control-click) the file, choose Open With, and pick an app.
- Select the file, then choose File > Open With from the menu bar.
- Drag the file onto the player’s icon in the Dock or in the Applications folder.
- Open the player first, then use its File > Open command (in QuickTime Player it’s File > Open File).
None of these change what happens the next time you double-click the file.
Which Media Player Should You Use?
The right default depends on what you watch or listen to. Use this table as a starting point:
| Your situation | Suggested choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Mostly .mov and .mp4 videos from iPhone, screen recordings or downloads | QuickTime Player | Built in, simple, and handles common Apple formats |
| Formats that QuickTime won’t open, such as some .mkv or older files | A third-party player from the Mac App Store or the developer’s official site | Many third-party players support more formats and codecs |
| Music library and playlists | Music app | Organizes audio and keeps your library in one place |
| Different needs for different formats | Mix and match | Defaults are per file type, so each format can use a different app |
A codec is the method used to compress audio or video inside a file. Two files can both end in .mkv or .avi but use different codecs, which is why one plays and another doesn’t. Apple notes that older or specialized formats may not work if your Mac or the app doesn’t support them.
Only download players from the Mac App Store or the developer’s own website. Avoid “codec packs” or players pushed by pop-up ads.
Switch Back to QuickTime Player
To undo your change, repeat the same steps and pick QuickTime Player:
- Select a file of the type you changed and press Command-I.
- Under Open with, choose QuickTime Player.
- Click Change All, then confirm if asked.
If you plan to uninstall a third-party player, reset your defaults to QuickTime Player first so double-clicking keeps working predictably.
Troubleshooting
The Change All button is grayed out
This usually means the app shown is already the default for that file type. Choose a different player from the Open with menu first, then try Change All again.
My player isn’t in the Open with menu
Make sure the app is installed in the Applications folder. Opening it once can help macOS register it. Then check the bottom of the Open with menu for an Other option to browse to it. If macOS shows only recommended apps, look for a setting in that dialog that allows all applications. The player must actually support the format for it to play correctly.
Some videos still open in QuickTime
Those files are probably a different format. For example, you changed .mp4 but the file is .mov. Check the Kind line with Command-I and repeat the steps for that format.
The file won’t play in any player
Apple suggests three checks: update macOS and your apps, look up the file’s format and search the internet or App Store for an app that supports it, and consider that the file itself may be damaged. See If a media file doesn’t open or play on your Apple device.
QuickTime says it needs to convert the file
QuickTime Player may convert some legacy media files before playing them. Let it finish, or open the file in a third-party player that supports the original format.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the default media player on a Mac?
For most video files, it’s QuickTime Player, which comes with macOS. Audio files may open in QuickTime Player or the Music app, depending on the format and your settings.
Is there a setting in System Settings for the default video player?
Apple documents one way to do this: Finder’s Get Info window, which sets the default per file type. There’s no single “default video player” switch like the one for your web browser.
Does Change All affect files I download later?
Yes. It sets the default for that file type, so new files of the same type open in your chosen app too.
Can I set different players for different formats?
Yes. Each file type has its own default, so you could use QuickTime Player for .mov and a third-party player for .mkv.
What’s the keyboard shortcut for Get Info?
Select the file and press Command-I. Apple’s full list is in Mac keyboard shortcuts.
Will changing the default player delete or change my files?
No. It only changes which app opens them. The files themselves stay exactly as they were.
Summary
- Install the player you want first.
- Select a file of the type you want to change and press Command-I.
- Under Open with, choose the new player.
- Click Change All to apply it to every file of that type.
- Repeat for each format, or skip Change All to affect one file only.
Next step: pick one file of each format you play most often and set its default now, so double-clicking any of them opens the right player.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.