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jpg photos automatically open in Photos app when opened on desktop

I am using MacBook pro OS Catalina. When I open a jpg file on my desktop the Photos app automatically opens and uploads the the file. In Photos preferences I have turned off the automatically open option, but it continues to happen.


MacBook Pro 15″, macOS 10.15

Posted on Nov 19, 2020 3:42 PM

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Posted on Nov 20, 2020 1:41 PM

Old Toad your recommendation may help, but I think I solved the problem by highlighted a jpg on my desktop, then did a command I which opened up an information pane that had said the default was to "open in Photos". I changed that open in preview and then clicked do for all future pictures. This appears to have worked so far.

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Nov 20, 2020 1:41 PM in response to Old Toad

Old Toad your recommendation may help, but I think I solved the problem by highlighted a jpg on my desktop, then did a command I which opened up an information pane that had said the default was to "open in Photos". I changed that open in preview and then clicked do for all future pictures. This appears to have worked so far.

Nov 20, 2020 10:09 AM in response to deflumeri

Log into another vanilla admin user account, Set up users, guests, and groups on Mac and see if the problem persists. (This tells us if the problem is limited to your user account or is system wide).


If the problem doesn't appear in the other account go back to your account and boot into Safe Mode by booting with the Shift key held down and check there to see if the problem persists.  Reboot normally and test again.


NOTE: Safe Mode boot can take up to 10 minutes as it's doing the following; 

• Verifies your startup disk and attempts to repair directory issues, if needed

• Loads only required kernel extensions (prevents 3rd party kernel/extensions from loading)

• Prevents Startup Items and Login Items from opening automatically

• Disables user-installed fonts 

• Deletes font caches, kernel cache, and other system cache files


Nov 20, 2020 7:49 AM in response to léonie

This happens with every photo labelled jpeg, even my own photos. Below I show four algorithms with my own picture. Example 1 opens the picture in the Photos app. Example 2 is an attempt to open picture by doing an I command and clicking on picture. I get the ensuing message shown. Example 3 I try to open picture that I exported from Photos as a JPEG. Then tried to open and got the ensuing message shown. Example 4 I opened picture on desktop by going to file > open with >preview and was successful. I replicated the entire process using a screen shot exported as a JPEG. If I click it opens in Photos. If I use File > open with Previews it is fine. Problem solved with this algorithm. I guess I will have to use File > open with each time.

Nov 19, 2020 10:07 PM in response to deflumeri

Sounds like you may have Photos as the default app for opening JPEG files instead of Preview.

Try this:

Select a JPEG file on your desktop and display its info with command-I (or File > Get Info or right-click and select Get Info from the context menu).

In the info window, look for "Open with:" and expand it if necessary.

What is shown in Open with?

jpg photos automatically open in Photos app when opened on desktop

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