Setting Preview as the default app on a Mac is straightforward, and the process is very similar for both PDF documents and images. To do this, follow our instructions below:
- Locate the file and right-click on it.
- Select Get Info and choose Preview from the Open with menu.
- Enjoy the result.
But why would you want to do this? macOS’s Preview program offers a variety of useful features. It’s frustrating when PDFs and photos open with other apps without your knowledge. This often happens when you download a new program with similar capabilities, which inadvertently becomes your default application.
Before we start:
One effective way to manage which programs open specific file types on your Mac is by using a tool like MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller. This tool allows you to remove unnecessary apps from your computer and regain control over your file associations.
This is how you can use MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller on your Apple device:
- Open MacKeeper on your Mac or MacBook.
- Click Smart Uninstaller under the Cleaning tab.
- Hit the Start Scan button.
- Select Applications and choose any apps you want to remove.
- Click Remove Selected.
- Click Remove again to confirm the changes.
In this article you will find the following:
As a Mac user, you might have questions about various functionalities, including how to change the lock screen or update the software. In this article, we’ll specifically address a common inquiry, especially among first-time users: how to set Preview as the default app for opening PDFs and images.
What is Preview on Mac
Preview is a program integrated into macOS that was first released in 1989 on the NeXT operating system. Soon after, it made its way to Apple computers and has since served as the default image and PDF viewer for Mac users. While its primary function is to open and view these types of documents, we love that it also offers several other editing capabilities.
Main features on Preview
As we just mentioned, Preview is much more than just a simple viewer. Here’s a comprehensive list of Preview’s main features:
- PDF/Image Viewer: Preview allows you to open PDF documents and images in numerous formats, including AI, BMP, DNG, GIF, HDR, ICO, JPEG, PNG, PPM, PPT, PSD, QTIF, RAW, SGI, TGA, TIFF, XBM, and more.
- File Converter: The app is excellent for converting files from one format to another, such as PDF, HEIC, JPEG, PNF, and TIFF.
- Photo Editor: You can adjust the color and size of your photos, crop a screenshot, and add text and shapes.
- PDF Editor: In addition to editing images, Preview lets you annotate PDF documents by adding text, shapes, and highlights.
- Document Compressor: Preview can reduce the size of a PDF file to save space on your disk.
- Combine PDFs: Preview enables you to merge multiple PDF documents into a single file.
- Forms: You can fill out forms and sign them with your own signature using Preview.
- Confidential Documents: The program is designed to help you protect sensitive information with a feature that allows you to add a password to documents.
Why set Preview as default on Mac
For many users, like you possibly, Preview is the only image and PDF editing tool they will ever need. It’s free and comes pre-installed on all Macs, so we personally think it’s the easiest option available. Additionally, Preview offers many more features than you might initially realize, making it a suitable replacement for more advanced applications if your requirements are basic.
Pros and cons of using Preview on Mac
Here’s our comprehensive overview of the advantages and disadvantages of using Preview:
| PROS | CONS |
Pre-installed for free on all Macs and MacBooks.
Automatically configured to open all supported files.
User-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate.
Includes a wide range of useful tools for both image and PDF editing. | You can’t edit the text of a PDF. You can only add text boxes.
Image editing functions, particularly cropping, could be improved for better intuitiveness.
It may not suffice as a replacement for professional-grade image or PDF editors. |
How to make Preview default apps for PDFs on Mac
To set Preview as your default app for opening and editing PDF documents on your Mac, we suggest you to do the following:
- Open Finder.
- Look for any PDF document saved on your Mac.
- Right-click on the file and select Get Info from the dropdown menu.
- Unfold the Open with menu.
- Select Preview from the list.
- Click the Change All button.
- When prompted, hit Continue in the dialog box to confirm.
How to make Preview default for image files
If you would also like Preview to be the default program for opening your photos and images, repeat our above-mentioned guidelines with the only difference—choose the image instead of the PDF file.
Here’s a reminder of what to do for you:
- Launch Finder.
- Look for any image saved on your computer and right-click on it.
- Choose Get Info from the menu.
- Open the Open with a dropdown menu.
- Choose Preview from the list.
- Hit Change All.
- In the dialog box, confirm by clicking Continue.
Should you make Preview default on Mac?
Preview is one of the many built-in programs in macOS that enhances the overall Apple experience. It’s designed to meet the basic needs of everyday Mac users, providing nearly everything you need to edit images and PDF documents, including an option to make a slideshow.
However, to avoid issues when opening PDFs and images with macOS Preview, we recommend removing any redundant or unnecessary programs from your Mac. MacKeeper’s Smart Uninstaller is an effective and user-friendly option for this task.
Using our Smart Uninstaller is simple if you follow these instructions:
- Download and launch the MacKeeper app on your Mac.
- Go to the Cleaning section, then select Smart Uninstaller.
- Hit Start Scan.
- Choose Applications from the list.
- Click on Remove Selected.
- Finally, confirm any changes by clicking Remove again.
While some users may require more specialized editing software, Preview is an ideal tool for opening and editing images and PDFs for most of us.
