The Preview app on Mac is an incredibly versatile tool that allows users to view and edit images, PDFs, and other file types. It's a handy utility that many Mac users overlook, but once you start using it, you'll find it indispensable. In this guide, we'll show you how to set Preview as the default app on your Mac, so that it automatically opens your files.

Understanding the Preview App

The Preview app is a built-in utility on Mac that allows you to view and edit various file types. It's a lightweight, fast, and efficient tool that can handle a wide range of tasks.

With Preview, you can view and edit images, view PDF files, and even annotate them. It supports a wide range of image formats, including JPEG, PNG, and TIFF. For PDFs, you can add text, draw shapes, highlight text, and more. It's a powerful tool that can replace many third-party apps.

Benefits of Using Preview:

One of the main benefits of using Preview is its speed and efficiency. It's a lightweight app that doesn't consume a lot of system resources, so it opens files quickly. This is especially useful if you frequently work with large image files or PDFs.

Another benefit is its versatility. With Preview, you can perform a wide range of tasks without needing to install additional software. This can save you time and disk space, as you won't need to download and install multiple apps for different tasks.

Setting Preview as the Default App

Now that we understand what the Preview app is and its benefits, let's move on to the main topic: setting Preview as the default app on Mac. This process is straightforward and can be done in a few steps.

By setting Preview as the default app, your Mac will automatically open files with Preview. This means that when you double-click a file, it will open in Preview instead of another app. This can save you time, as you won't need to manually open files with Preview.

Step-by-Step Guide:

Here's a step-by-step guide on how to set Preview as the default app on Mac:

• First, locate a file that you want to open with Preview. This can be an image file, a PDF, or any other file type that Preview supports.
• Right-click on the file and select 'Get Info' from the context menu.
• In the 'Get Info' window, look for the 'Open with' section. This shows the current default app for the file type.
• Click on the dropdown menu and select 'Preview' from the list of apps.
• Click the 'Change All...' button. A confirmation dialog will appear, asking if you want to change the default app for all files of the same type.
• Click 'Continue' to confirm. From now on, all files of the same type will open with Preview by default.

This process needs to be repeated for each file type that you want to open with Preview. For example, if you want to set Preview as the default app for both JPEG and PNG files, you'll need to repeat these steps for a JPEG file and a PNG file.

Additional Tips and Tricks

Setting Preview as the default app on Mac is just the beginning. There are many other ways to make the most of this versatile tool. Here are some additional tips and tricks to help you get the most out of Preview.

Editing Images and PDFs:  Preview is not just a viewer, it's also a capable editor. You can use it to edit images and PDFs. For images, you can adjust the color, size, and orientation. You can also crop images and remove backgrounds. For PDFs, you can add text, draw shapes, highlight text, and more.

To access these editing tools, open a file with Preview and click on the 'Show Markup Toolbar' button on the toolbar. This will reveal a set of tools that you can use to edit the file.

Batch Processing: Did you know that you can use Preview to process multiple files at once? This is a handy feature if you frequently work with large numbers of files. You can use it to resize multiple images, convert images to a different format, or extract pages from multiple PDFs.

To do this, select multiple files in Finder and open them with Preview. Then, go to the 'Edit' menu and select 'Select All'. Next, go to the 'Tools' menu and select the action you want to perform. The action will be applied to all selected files.

Conclusion

Setting Preview as the default app on Mac is a simple process that can save you time and make your workflow more efficient. With its speed, versatility, and range of features, Preview is a powerful tool that can replace many third-party apps. So why not give it a try and see how it can improve your productivity?

While you're enhancing your Mac experience with Preview as your default app, don't forget to give your phone the same attention to detail. Case Monkey offers a variety of phone cases to keep your device safe and stylish. Whether you're an iPhone aficionado or loyal to another brand, we've got you covered. Check out our products and ensure your phone is protected from life's unexpected moments.