How to Clear or reset the "Open With" list

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Randall_2023 Author

Level 4

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How to Clear or reset the "Open With" list

Is this the best way to clear the "Open With" list or is there a more straight-forward method?

https://www.macobserver.com/tips/how-to/remove-items-open-with-macos/

Since I updated to Ventura 13.4.1 My "Open With" list shows all versions of Firefox from version 110 to 114 and several Vivaldi versions in which I rarely ever use. I ran Onyx and it didn't fix it. Neither did resetting Recent Items to zero and then back to 5 again. Which did work previous to this version of Ventura. Here’s my list: (For .webloc files on the Desktop, when I right click, "Open With" )

Should I report this as a bug to: Feedback - macOS - Apple ?

iMac 24″

Posted on Jun 23, 2023 7:29 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

VikingOSX

Community+ 2024

Level 10

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Jun 23, 2023 8:18 AM in response to Randall_2023

Boot your Apple Silicon Mac into Safe Boot mode which will rebuild the application launch database and clear up those menu items. Reboot normally afterward.

If you still have all of these various versions of applications still installed in different folder locations, then the first paragraph will not clean up that open with menu as they remain legitimate applications in the filesystem.

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Answer 2

Randall_2023 Author

Level 4

3,655 points

Jun 23, 2023 11:24 AM in response to VikingOSX

Yes sir! That was the fix. I should have thought of that but was convinced this was way out of normal. Seems like this might be a nuisance, though, if it continues. I only had(have) one copy of those apps and are in Applications. No sub folders of apps either. Thanks so much for the assist! Wonder why Onyx didn't do it. Am using the most current version of 4.4.0. Oh well!

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Answer 3

Randall_2023 Author

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Jun 24, 2023 3:59 AM in response to VikingOSX

Well....the list was normal all day after booting into safe boot yesterday. But then this morning it came back to the long list as shown above when I logged in before doing anything else. Any other ideas? Is anyone else seeing this anomaly?

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Answer 4

Randall_2023 Author

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Jun 24, 2023 4:28 AM in response to dialabrain

I have not yet tried the example from Terminal I posted but I will when (if) it happens again. Oddly, I just performed a normal reboot (Not using Safe Boot) and the long list disappeared and was normal again. Also, for the record, I do not use any 3rd party optimizers or anti-virus apps. Only MalwareBytes.

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Answer 5

Randall_2023 Author

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Jun 24, 2023 5:11 AM in response to dialabrain

I did and thought it had fixed it but the problem returned. Also, after I reboot, the list is short as expected but in a few minutes, the list comes back to the long duplicated list. I will try logging in as a new admin user and also in safe mode to see if the problem comes back which will at least determine if it's isolated to my default user account or not. This is just an annoying problem but not a serious problem. I guess!

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Answer 6

Jun 23, 2023 11:34 AM in response to Randall_2023

I use no cleaner, optimizing, or other third-party applications on my Macs. Definitely not Onyx.

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Answer 7

dialabrain

Level 10

122,711 points

Jun 23, 2023 11:46 AM in response to VikingOSX

VikingOSX wrote:

Definitely not Onyx.

Onyx can be useful in the right hands.

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Answer 8

dialabrain

Level 10

122,711 points

Jun 24, 2023 4:14 AM in response to Randall_2023

I've rarely seen duplicates in the "Open With" menu but when I have rebuilding Launch Services fixed it.

I assume you already tried the methods in the link you posted.

FWIW, "rarely" as in once. 😎

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Answer 9

dialabrain

Level 10

122,711 points

Jun 24, 2023 4:32 AM in response to Randall_2023

You still may want to run the Terminal example. It may stop it from reoccurring.

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Answer 10

Randall_2023 Author

Level 4

3,655 points

Jun 24, 2023 4:54 AM in response to dialabrain

Well, the problem came back again. So I ran the script and rebooted. Unfortunately for me, the problem did not go away. Back to the drawing board I go.

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