How to Change The Default Application In macOS
In macOS each file type is opened automatically by a default application. This short blog post will explain how you can change the default application a file opens with.
The macOS operating system hides files and folders for good reason: to prevent accidental deletion of critical system files and to simplify the OS so that only the files and folders we need to interact with are visible. There may be times, however, when you need to locate a hidden file or folder.
How To Show Hidden Files & Folders In Terminal
- Open Terminal: Finder > Applications > Utilities
In Terminal, type or paste the following…
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles YES
(return)
- Hold down the control + options keys together, left-click on the Finder icon and click Relaunch.
How To Hide Files & Folders In Terminal
- Open Terminal: Finder > Applications > Utilities
In Terminal, type or paste the following…
defaults write com.apple.finder AppleShowAllFiles NO
(return)
- Hold down the control + options keys together, left-click on the Finder icon and click Relaunch.
Dates posted and updated.
Originally posted 27 April, 2025.
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