Open files with other applications

When you double-click (or middle-click) a file in the file manager, it will be opened with the default application for that file type. You can open it in a different application, search online for applications, or set the default application for all files of the same type.

To open a file with an application other than the default, right-click the file and select the application you want from the top of the menu. If you do not see the application you want, select Open With…. By default, the file manager only shows applications that are known to handle the file. To look through all the applications on your computer, click View All Apps.

If you still cannot find the application you want, you can search for more applications by clicking Find New Apps. The file manager will search online for packages containing applications that are known to handle files of that type.

Change the default application

You can change the default application that is used to open files of a given type. This will allow you to open your preferred application when you double-click to open a file. For example, you might want your favorite music player to open when you double-click an MP3 file.

  1. Select a file of the type whose default application you want to change. For example, to change which application is used to open MP3 files, select a .mp3 file.

  2. Right-click the file and select Properties.

  3. Select the Open With tab.

  4. Select the application you want and click Set as default.

    If Other Applications contains an application you sometimes want to use, but do not want to make the default, select that application and click Add. This will add it to Recommended Applications. You will then be able to use this application by right-clicking the file and selecting it from the list.

This changes the default application not just for the selected file, but for all files with the same type.