How to Change Default Video Player on Mac

Method 1: Changing Defaults Using ‘Get Info’ ⚙

• Find a video file and right-click (or Ctrl-click) to open the context menu.
• Select ‘Get Info’ from the list of options.
• In the ‘Open with:’ section, click the dropdown menu and choose Elmedia Player as your preferred application. If it’s not listed, click ‘Other…’ to find and select it.
• Click ‘Change All…’ to set Elmedia Player as the default for all files of that type.

Note: This method changes the default player for the specific file type you chose. If you have multiple file types, you’ll need to repeat these steps for each one.

Conclusion: A simple and straightforward method that provides immediate results, perfect for those who are looking for a quick change while managing their file associations.

Method 2: Using macOS Preferences 🛠

• Open System Preferences from the Apple menu.
• Go to Extensions > ‘Finder’.
• Select the file type you want to change the association for, and choose Elmedia Player from the list of available applications.
• Close System Preferences to save your changes.

Note: This method not only changes the default player for the selected file types but also ensures that any new related file types are associated with Elmedia Player.

Conclusion: An efficient technique for those who prefer to dive into system settings to ensure broader changes across the operating system.

Method 3: Using a Dedicated Application 🔨

• Download a file association management app like ‘RCDefaultApp’ or ‘SwiftDefaultApps’.
• Install and open the app, then navigate to the video file types you want to associate with a different player.
• Select Elmedia Player from the list provided within the app.
• Apply the changes and close the app.

Note: These types of apps allow for more granular control over file associations and can be especially useful for power users.

Conclusion: While this method requires downloading third-party software, it offers a high degree of customization for users who prefer in-depth management of their file types.

Method 4: By Editing the plist File 📝

• Navigate to the ‘~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices.plist’ file within Finder.
• Open the file with a plist editor or text editor.
• Modify the entries related to video file types to point to Elmedia Player’s application bundle identifier.
• Save the changes and restart your Mac to apply them.

Note: This method is more complex and requires a good understanding of macOS’s file system and structure.

Conclusion: Best suited for advanced users who are comfortable editing system files and want the utmost control over their default applications.

Method 5: Drag-and-Drop on the Dock ⚓

• Open the Applications folder and find Elmedia Player.
• Drag the Elmedia Player icon to your Dock if it’s not already there.
• Now, you can drag any video file onto the Elmedia Player icon in the Dock to open it with that program by default.

Note: While this won’t change the default player system-wide, it does create a quick-access method to open files with your preferred video player.

Conclusion: Ideal for users who frequently switch between video players or prefer using the Dock for quick actions.