In the realm of video playback, the default media player can significantly impact your viewing experience. If you’re a Mac user, you may find yourself yearning for an alternative to the built-in QuickTime Player. Fortunately, customizing your video player preferences on a Mac is a simple and straightforward process. Whether you prefer a more feature-rich option or a lightweight player that prioritizes efficiency, this guide will empower you to establish a default video player that aligns perfectly with your specific requirements.
The first step in this transformative endeavor is to explore the diverse array of video players available for Mac. Some popular contenders include VLC Media Player, IINA, and MPV. VLC Media Player boasts an impressive array of features, including native support for a wide range of video and audio formats, advanced playback controls, and the ability to stream media from a variety of sources. IINA, meanwhile, offers a sleek and modern interface, coupled with a powerful set of tools for video editing and playback. MPV, on the other hand, is renowned for its lightning-fast performance and its minimalistic approach to video playback.
Once you’ve selected your preferred video player, it’s time to set it as the default for all video files on your Mac. To accomplish this, simply right-click on any video file, select “Get Info” from the context menu, and then navigate to the “Open With” section. Here, you’ll be presented with a dropdown menu showcasing the applications associated with video playback. Choose your preferred player from the list, and ensure that the “Always Open With” checkbox is ticked. From this point forward, all video files on your Mac will automatically launch in your chosen player, providing you with a seamless and tailored video playback experience.
Accessing System Preferences
To change the default video player on your Mac, the first step is to access System Preferences. System Preferences is the central hub for configuring various settings and preferences on your Mac. Here’s a detailed guide on how to access System Preferences:
1.
Through the Apple Menu
Click on the Apple menu located in the top left corner of the screen.
Select “System Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
This option is available in all versions of macOS.
2.
Using Spotlight Search
Click on the Spotlight search icon located in the top right corner of the screen.
Type “System Preferences” in the search field.
Click on the “System Preferences” icon that appears in the search results.
This option is available in all versions of macOS.
3.
From the Dock
If System Preferences is added to the Dock, you can launch it from there.
Click on the System Preferences icon in the Dock.
If it’s not there, you can drag it from the Applications folder to the Dock for quick access in the future.
4.
Via Terminal
Open the Terminal app located in the Utilities folder within Applications.
Type the following command in the Terminal window:
open /System/Library/PreferencePanes/
Press Enter.
This option is available in all versions of macOS.
Once you have accessed System Preferences, you can proceed to the next step of changing the default video player on your Mac.
Selecting Apple Menu
To initiate the process of altering your Mac’s default video player, commence by clicking on the Apple menu, which you’ll find ensconced in the upper left-hand corner of your screen, next to the illuminated Apple logo. Upon clicking, a drop-down menu will unfurl, presenting a panoply of options.
Selecting System Preferences
Next, hover over the “System Preferences” option, which should be readily apparent in the second row of the Apple menu. As you hover, a new submenu will emerge, revealing a comprehensive array of options pertaining to the configuration of your Mac’s operating system.
Selecting General
Within the System Preferences menu, navigate to the “General” tab, which is typically the first option in the top row. This tab houses a diverse collection of settings pertaining to the overall behavior and appearance of your Mac.
Selecting Default Web Browser
Scroll down the General tab until you encounter the “Default Web Browser” section. This section allows you to specify which web browser you prefer to use when navigating the internet. By default, Safari, Apple’s proprietary web browser, is assigned as the default.
Clicking Change Default
To modify the default web browser, click on the “Change Default” button, which is situated to the right of the current default browser. Upon clicking, a pop-up window will appear, displaying a list of all web browsers installed on your Mac.
Selecting Your Preferred Browser
From the list of available browsers, select the one that you wish to set as the default. Once you have made your selection, click on the “Set as Default” button, which can be found in the lower right-hand corner of the pop-up window.
Table: Web Browsers
| Browser | Developer |
|---|---|
| Safari | Apple Inc. |
| Google Chrome | Google LLC |
| Mozilla Firefox | Mozilla Corporation |
| Microsoft Edge | Microsoft Corporation |
| Opera | Opera Software AS |
Navigating to General Settings
To begin modifying the default video player on your Mac, you’ll need to navigate to the General settings. Here’s how to do it:
- Click on the Apple menu located in the top-left corner of your screen.
- Select “System Preferences” from the drop-down menu.
- In the System Preferences window, click on “General.”
Choosing Default Web Browser
On a Mac, you can choose which web browser you want to use as the default. This means that when you click on a link in an email, or in a document, it will automatically open in your chosen browser.
Step 1: Open System Preferences
To change the default web browser on a Mac, you first need to open System Preferences. You can do this by clicking on the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and selecting “System Preferences.”
Step 2: Click on “General”
In System Preferences, click on the “General” icon. This will open the General settings panel.
Step 3: Select your desired web browser
In the General settings panel, you will see a section called “Default web browser.” Click on the drop-down menu next to this section and select the web browser that you want to use as the default.
Step 4: Quit and Relaunch Browsers
In some cases, you may need to quit and relaunch all open browsers for the changes to take effect. To do this, press Command-Q to quit each browser, then relaunch them by clicking on their icons in the Dock or Applications folder.
Locating Video Player Options
To modify the default video player in Mac, you’ll need to access the system’s preferences. Here’s a step-by-step guide:
1. Open System Preferences
Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen and select “System Preferences.” Alternatively, you can press Command + Space, type “System Preferences,” and press Enter.
2. Select General
Once System Preferences opens, click on the “General” icon.
3. Find “Default Web Browser”
Scroll down to the bottom of the General preferences pane and locate the “Default Web Browser” section.
4. Change Default Video Player
Click on the drop-down menu next to “Default Web Browser” and select the desired video player. The most common options include Safari, Chrome, and Firefox.
5. Use a Third-party Video Player
If the video player you want to set as default is not listed in the drop-down menu, you can use a third-party video player and make it the default in the player’s own preferences. Here are the steps:
| Video Player | Instructions |
|---|---|
| VLC Media Player |
Go to VLC > Preferences > Video > Choose “macOS” as Interface > Quit and restart VLC. |
| IINA |
Go to IINA > Preferences > General > Choose “Default media application” > Check the “Always Open Movies” box. |
| MPlayerX |
Go to MPlayerX > Preferences > General > Select “Prefer MPlayerX for all supported media files” > Restart MPlayerX. |
Changing the Default Video Player
To change the default video player on your Mac, follow these steps:
- Open the System Preferences
- Click on General
- Scroll down to the Default web browser section
- Click on the Change button next to the Default video player field
- Select the desired video player from the list of options
- Click on the Set Default button
Here is a table summarizing the steps:
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Open the System Preferences |
| 2 | Click on General |
| 3 | Scroll down to the Default web browser section |
| 4 | Click on the Change button next to the Default video player field |
| 5 | Select the desired video player from the list of options |
| 6 | Click on the Set Default button |
Previewing Video Playback
To verify if your alterations took effect, you can now preview video playback using your specified default video player. Locate a video file on your Mac and double-click it to launch it.
Built-In Control Panel
Once the video starts playing, look for a built-in control panel that typically appears at the bottom of the video window. This panel generally includes playback controls such as pause, play, rewind, and fast-forward buttons.
Aspect Ratio Adjustment
If necessary, you can adjust the aspect ratio of the video to fit your preferred viewing experience. Click on the “View” button in the menu bar and select “Aspect Ratio” to choose from options like “Original,” “Letterbox,” or “Fullscreen.”
Video Quality Options
Some video players provide options to adjust video quality. Click on the “Video” button in the menu bar and select “Quality” to choose from available options like “Standard,” “High,” or “Best.”
Customizable Settings
If you prefer a more personalized video playback experience, explore the settings menu of your video player. This menu typically provides options to adjust various parameters such as audio volume, equalizer settings, and subtitles.
Playback History
Many video players maintain a history of recently played videos. To access this history, click on the “History” button in the menu bar or use a keyboard shortcut like “Command + H.”
Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard shortcuts can enhance your video playback experience. Learn the shortcuts for commonly used functions like pausing, playing, skipping forward or backward, and adjusting volume for a more efficient media consumption.
Checking for Compatibility
Before proceeding with the steps to change the default video player, it’s crucial to ensure that the desired app is compatible with your Mac’s operating system. Here’s a step-by-step guide to check compatibility:
1. Determine Your Mac’s Operating System Version
Click on the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and select “About This Mac.” The macOS version will be displayed under “macOS.”
2. Check App Compatibility
Visit the website of the video player app you want to use. Look for the “System Requirements” section to determine if the app is compatible with your Mac’s operating system version.
3. Check Format Compatibility
Confirm that the video player app supports the file formats of the videos you typically watch. If the app doesn’t support a particular format, you may need to convert the videos before using the app.
4. Consider Codec Support
Some videos use specific codecs (e.g., H.264, H.265) for compression. Ensure that the video player app supports the codecs used by your videos.
5. Look for Compatibility Charts
Certain websites provide compatibility charts that list the operating systems and file formats supported by different video player apps. This can simplify the process of finding a compatible app.
6. Read User Reviews
Check online user reviews of the video player app to see if other users have experienced any compatibility issues with your Mac’s operating system.
7. Contact App Developer
If you’re unsure about compatibility, don’t hesitate to contact the developer of the video player app. They can provide detailed information on supported operating systems and file formats.
8. Test with a Sample Video
Once you’ve checked compatibility through the above methods, download a sample video file that uses the codecs and format you typically encounter. Attempt to play the video using the desired app. If the video plays smoothly, it confirms compatibility.
Troubleshooting Default Video Playback
Error message: “The default video player is not installed.”
Ensure that you have the latest version of your preferred video player installed. If not, download and install the latest version.
Error message: “The default video player cannot be opened.”
Check if the video player is compatible with your operating system. If not, install a compatible video player.
Error message: “The default video player is not responding.”
Force quit the video player by pressing “Command + Option + Esc,” selecting the video player, and clicking “Force Quit.” Then, relaunch the video player.
Error message: “The default video player does not support the file format.”
Verify that your video player supports the file format of the video you are trying to play. If not, convert the video to a supported format.
Error message: “The default video player is not playing audio.”
Check if the audio settings in your video player are correct. Adjust the volume and ensure that the correct audio output device is selected.
Error message: “The default video player is lagging or freezing.”
Close other programs that may be consuming system resources, free up disk space, or update your video drivers.
Error message: “The default video player is not displaying subtitles.”
Ensure that the subtitle file is in the same folder as the video file and that it has the same name as the video file.
Error message: “The default video player is not playing videos fullscreen.”
Check if the video player has the option to play videos fullscreen. If so, enable the option.
Error message: “The default video player is not remembering playback settings.”
Close and relaunch the video player. If the problem persists, reset the video player’s preferences by deleting the preference files.
Customizing Video Player Settings
To further personalize your video-viewing experience, you can adjust the default video player’s settings to suit your preferences.
Settings Overview
The settings menu offers a range of options to customize the player’s behavior, including:
- Playback quality
- Subtitle and closed caption settings
- Video and audio track selection
- Looping videos
- Auto-play and auto-advance settings
Accessing the Settings Menu
- Start playing a video.
- Click the gear icon in the bottom-right corner of the video player.
- The settings menu will appear.
Adjusting Playback Quality
Select the desired playback quality from the drop-down menu under “Quality”. Higher quality videos will consume more data but provide a sharper image.
Subtitles and Closed Captions
To enable subtitles or closed captions, click the “Captions” button and select the desired language. You can also adjust the font size and color.
Video and Audio Track Selection
If alternative video or audio tracks are available, you can switch between them using the drop-down menus under “Video Track” and “Audio Track”.
Looping Videos
To loop the video continuously, click the “Loop” button. The video will start over automatically when it reaches the end.
Auto-Play and Auto-Advance Settings
Enable or disable auto-play by clicking the “Auto-Play” button. To automatically advance to the next video in a playlist, enable “Auto-Advance”.
Additional Settings
The settings menu also provides options for cropping the video, rotating the image, and adjusting the playback speed.
| Setting | Description |
|---|---|
| Crop Video | Trims the video to a specific aspect ratio |
| Rotate Image | Rotates the video by 90 or 180 degrees |
| Playback Speed | Adjusts the video speed to 0.5x, 1.0x, 1.5x, or 2.0x |
Saving and Resetting Settings
To save your customized settings, click the “Apply” button and then close the settings menu. If you want to restore the default settings, click the “Reset” button.
How To Change Default Video Player In Mac
Follow these steps to change the default video player in Mac:
- Open the Apple menu and click on “System Preferences.”
- Click on “General.”
- In the “Default apps” section, click on the “Video Player” menu and select the app you want to use as the default video player.
- Quit System Preferences.
People Also Ask
How do you change the default video player in Mac Catalina?
To change the default video player in Mac Catalina, follow these steps:
- Open the Apple menu and click on “System Preferences.”
- Click on “General.”
- In the “Default apps” section, click on the “Video Player” menu and select the app you want to use as the default video player.
- Quit System Preferences.
What is the default video player on Mac?
The default video player on Mac is QuickTime Player.
How do I change the default video player in Mac Big Sur?
To change the default video player in Mac Big Sur, follow these steps:
- Open the Apple menu and click on “System Preferences.”
- Click on “General.”
- In the “Default apps” section, click on the “Video Player” menu and select the app you want to use as the default video player.
- Quit System Preferences.
