Since updating to Mac OS 13.1, files with the .webloc file extension open by default in Safari even when I have a different web browser set as my default. These files should open in the default web browser as chosen in my settings.
I hope Apple will fix this ASAP. And I really hope this is not some sneaky way to try to force people to use Safari when they don't want to.
This has been fixed in Ventura 13.2 that released today (01-23-2023)
This has been fixed in Ventura 13.2 that released today (01-23-2023)
Did you set your Mac to open webloc files using your desired browser? What app opens a file has nothing to do with the default browser.
Select one, Get Info, Change it to open with your browser, then click Change All…
I have no idea if your browser can open a webloc file.
I was able to throw together a web page that you can drop webloc files on. It will convert each webloc file to an html file that, when opened, will immediately redirect to the url from the webloc file. The original webloc files are not modified or deleted.
The web page is at https://www.gradekeeper.com/webloc/
If this was not a bug and Apple really intends to restrict webloc files to Safari, this might be a reasonable option until various web browsers can implement an alternative to webloc files.
This bug appears to be fixed in Mac OS 13.2 ...
This is a problem even when trying to use Get Info. Any shortcut with any default browser set will only open with Safari. And attempting to change it in Get Info, the option to change browser as well as using Change All are grayed out. I have this problem as well that started with 13.1 It was working fine with 13.01.
In addition to mentioning here, I recommend to use the bug reporting form at Apple Feedback as well:
Having the same type of issue. Mac OS 13.1 and everywhere I look Firefox is set to the default as I prefer, and Safari asks if I can set it to default when it launches BUT the behavior is such that the system behaves as if Safari IS the default. Double-clicking .webloc files opens the web page in Safari which is not what I want. I know I can right click and select it to open in Firefox but that is extra steps. Clearly a bug it sounds like.
I'm on 13.2.1 and sadly, it didn't fix the problem for me. :-(
I've been through all the suggestions with changing file association and re-creating new links to the websites. What does work, however, is using the right click "open with" option every time or the above mentioned tool to convert a webloc file, provided by Daniel Ethier. (Thanks for that, man!)
FWIW, right-click on the .webloc file and choose the browser you want to open it with.
p.s. You can send Apple feedback.
Ventura 13.2 should be out shortly. See if the problem still exists after updating.
My default browser is set to Brave. And up until I updated to Mac OS 13.1, double clicking on a webloc file would open that file in my chosen default web browser. After updating to 13.1, those files now open in Safari when I double click one. So Apple changed something.
Get Info does not allow you to change the default app for webloc files. That option is dimmed out. If I try right clicking the webloc file and choose to open it with Other, then choose Brave and check the box to always do this, I get an error message.
I even tried changing the extension, then changing the default app to Brave, then changing the extension back, but it still shows Safari as the default. Apple apparently really wants you to use Safari, whether you want to or not.
All the major web browsers can handle webloc files.
I may do that, and with the other major browsers, but before doing that I would like to hear from Apple whether this is a bug or an intentional choice that they made to only allow Safari to be the default way to open a webloc file.
Another thought I had was to write a quick little app to extract the website from the XML in the webloc file and spit out an html file that would use Javascript to immediately load that website. The html file will open in the default web browser.
Same here; I've submitted a bug report to Apple just now. Like the other posters here, I'm using MacOS Ventura 13.01, so it seems to be an OS-wide problem.
I know I can right click and choose Brave to open the webloc file, but this is cumbersome compared to just double clicking the file. Until 13.1 double clicking the webloc file would open the website in my default browser. Why make this change? It's annoying.
I may do that, and with the other major browsers, but before doing that I would like to hear from Apple whether this is a bug or an intentional choice that they made to only allow Safari to be the default way to open a webloc file.
Apple rarely responds to anything. I wouldn’t expect any response.
webloc files do not open with default browser
