How to make Preview default on Mac

Say goodbye to Adobe Acrobat Reader! The preview application (Preview) that comes with Mac system is an efficient and convenient PDF reader. This article will introduce in detail how to set Preview as the default PDF viewer for Mac computers and share some practical tips.

Why choose Preview as the default PDF viewer?

As a Mac system built-in application, Preview has the following advantages:

• Multi-file type support: Compatible with PDF, PNG and JPG and other file formats.
• Convenient marking function: Annotate images and documents without switching software.
• Comprehensive editing tools: Supports annotation, editing and signatures directly within the application.
• Fast and easy document signature: Signing faster than other PDF editors such as Adobe Acrobat.
• Ideal for everyday use: Ideal for users who need to view, annotate and manage PDFs and images frequently.

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How to set Preview as the default PDF viewer

The following steps will guide you to set Preview as the default PDF viewer for your Mac:

1. Right-click on the PDF file and select "Show Introduction".
2. Under "Open With", select Preview from the drop-down menu.
3. Click "Change All" to apply this setting to all PDF files.

Note: This setting only changes the default viewer for PDF files. The methods for setting other file types are described below.

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Change the default application for other file types

You can change the default opening method of other file types (such as .png, .jpeg, .tiff) to Preview using a similar method:

1. Right-click on the file and select "Show Introduction".
2. Under "Open With", select Preview from the drop-down menu.
3. Click "Change All" to apply this setting to all files in this format.

Open specific files in Preview without changing the default settings

If you need more advanced PDF editing capabilities, but only need a simple photo viewer, you can open files one by one as you want. Simply right-click the file you want to open, select "Open With", and then click "Preview". This way, you can select powerful applications when you need it and Preview when you need a simple view.

FAQ Troubleshooting

While Apple products are usually very reliable, some problems may still arise. Here are some common problems and their solutions:

Problem 1: The preview does not appear in the "Open With" menu

If Preview does not appear in the Open With menu, try resetting the startup service. The method is as follows:

1. Open "Application">"Utilities">"Terminal".
2. Enter /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user and press Enter.
3. When finished, restart your Mac.

Add Preview manually:

1. Right-click on the PDF file and select "Show Introduction".
2. Under Open With, select Other.
3. Select "Preview".

Question 2: Changes are not taking effect

If the changes do not take effect after setting Preview to the default application, restart your Mac. Sometimes the settings do not take effect immediately, and restarting can ensure that the app is updated.

Problem 3: The file is still opened with the wrong application

If you set Preview to the default application for PDF files, some files are still opened with other applications, it may be because of missing steps. After selecting Preview in the Open With menu, be sure to click Change All to apply settings to all PDF files, not just selected files.

All in all, Preview is a simple and reliable application.

Summary

For ordinary users, Preview is an ideal choice for both diversity, efficiency and ease of use. You can use it to view images and other files even if you don't set it as the default PDF viewer. If you need more advanced PDF editing, you can use Nitro PDF Pro; if you need to find specific content in PDF, you can use PDF Search; if you need to compress large PDF files, you can use PDF Squeezer.

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