Customising "Open With" options in Finder

[JonL12345]

When I right mouse click a file in Finder, I have a big list of "Open With" options. Most of those I never use. How can I edit this tree of options so it only shows the ones I want to see?

 

[0128672]

You can't edit the open with suggestions, but you can change the default app by file type.

Choose an app to open a file on Mac

In the Finder on your Mac, select a specific app to open a file.

support.apple.com

 

[rpmurray]

This article is a bit old - Remove Duplicates & Customize the “Open With” Menu in Mac OS X - but it may point you in the right direction.

 

[JonL12345]

Thanks for the link. I think it is probably too much effort for the return.

 

[rpmurray]

Thanks for the link. I think it is probably too much effort for the return.

Yeah, kind of surprising that I haven't found an app that does all this.

 

[JonL12345]

I think the link mentions an app to help with this.

 

[0128672]

Just for some background about how the Open With list gets populated, here's a Stack Exchange discussion link.

How is "Open with" on macOS populated internally?

I know I can associate my application with a certain extension by editing the Info.plist file in my app bundle: ... <key>CFBundleTypeExtensions</key> <array> <string>...

stackoverflow.com

 

[Gregg2]

When I right mouse click a file in Finder, I have a big list of "Open With" options. Most of those I never use. How can I edit this tree of options so it only shows the ones I want to see?

Do you frequently need to open a file with an app other than the Default? How long is the list of options? Is it difficult to get to the one you want to use?

 

[0128672]

Do you frequently need to open a file with an app other than the Default? How long is the list of options? Is it difficult to get to the one you want to use?

I agree ... it's not really hard. I never see more than 3 or 4 other suggested apps in addition to the default and wouldn't consider that a "long list".

Also @JonL12345, I don't know if you know this, but you can change the default app to open certain files types. That might make things easier for you rather than searching each time.

Permanently change the app used to open a file​

1. On your Mac, click the Finder icon
   
   in the Dock to open a Finder window.
2. Select the file, then choose File > Get Info.
   You can also Control-click the file, then choose Get Info.
3. In the Info window, click the arrow
   
   next to “Open with.”
4. Click the pop-up menu, then choose the app.
   To open all files of this type with this app, click Change All.

Choose an app to open a file on Mac

In the Finder on your Mac, select a specific app to open a file.

support.apple.com

 

[BrianBaughn]

You can use Automator to create a "Quick Action" to receive "files or folders" in "Finder"…and then the ""Open Finder Items" action…for any application. Make as many as you need.

Then, instead of going to the "Open With" right-click menu you would drop down to the "Quick Actions" and choose the application there.