how to make preview default for pdf

To make Preview the default app for PDFs, you just need to change the “opens with” setting for any PDF, then apply it to all PDFs.

On macOS: Make Preview the default for PDFs

Follow these steps:

1. In Finder, locate any PDF file.
2. Right‑click (or Ctrl‑click) the PDF and choose Get Info.
3. In the Open with: section, open the dropdown menu.
4. Select Preview from the list of apps. If it doesn’t show, choose Other… , go to Applications, and pick Preview.
5. Click the Change All… button just below the dropdown.
6. Confirm in the pop‑up that you want all files of this type (PDF) to open with Preview.

From now on, every time you double‑click a PDF, it will open in Preview by default.

If Preview doesn’t appear in the list

If you don’t see Preview right away:

• Click Other… in the Open with: dropdown.
• In the file chooser:
  • Go to the Applications folder.
  • Select Preview.
  • Make sure “Recommended Applications” or “All Applications” is set so Preview is visible.
• Then click Add (or Open) and again use Change All… in the Get Info window.

Quick check that it worked

• Close the Get Info window.
• Double‑click any PDF in Finder.
• It should now open in Preview automatically. If it doesn’t, repeat the steps once more, making sure you clicked Change All… and confirmed.

TL;DR: Right‑click a PDF → Get Info → Open with: Preview → Change All… → Confirm.