File Associations Keep Changing

I don't have anything Adobe installed other than maybe Flash plugin. To me, it's Firefox Quantum, but I'm not 100% sure. PDFs will open with Pixelmator or the crappy image collection app instead of preview.

It sounds like Launch Services is corrupt. You can either use the Terminal method to fix it explained here…

https://eclecticlight.co/2017/08/11/launch-services-database-problems-correcting -and-rebuilding/

Or install Onyx which is mentioned in the article and run the Maintenance routine.

https://www.titanium-software.fr/en/onyx.html

I ran Onyx last night - full maintenance - and so far it appears to have corrected this problem. Will report back if it reoccurs. Pretty sure it was due to Firefox update which itself has become lethargic so have switched to Safari and am trying to like it 🙂

I doubt it had anything to do with Firefox. I use it as my default browser on all my Macs and I've never had a Launch Services issue. I hope it stays fixed for you. It should.

Although, if you run anti-virus or cleaning apps there's a chance it could happen again. They cause many problems.

I've had a rash of wrong file associations on Mavericks with various types of file, sometimes corrected by force-quitting (and thus rebooting) the Finder. I've run the Onyx maintenance as suggested and we'll see what happens: but meantime in both Safari and FireFox dragging an image out of a web page changes the association for all images of that type to the browser if you double-click the file (this didn't happen previously) - if you drag the image to the icon of the program you want to use it opens correctly and doesn't change the association. I suspect this is some sort of 'improvement'.

I rarely use Safari but as far as Firefox, it drops the extension for whatever reason when you drag an image. I just right/control click on an image and choose "Save image as…". Then it retains the extension. No idea why they're different.

I forgot "click" lol

No, still happening even after using Onyx. I have .rtf files set to be opened by Nisus Writer Pro, which created them, but just now one of them opened with TextEdit. I rebooted the Finder and it opened correctly. This is getting annoying.

I also have this issue of file associations constantly changing, in particular Photoshop PSD files try to open in Illustrator and jpeg files to revert back opening in Preview (despite being set to open in Photoshop).

For me it is definitely an issue with Firefox Quantum 58.

As soon as I drag an image file from the browser to the desktop or a folder, for example a JPEG file, then the file association for all JPEGs reverts to Preview.app and PSD files change to Illustrator.app

However, on examining the com.apple.launchservices.secure.plist, it does not appear to get updated, so I am unclear as to where the file association is being changed (or is it stored in a temporary location).

If I trash it and restart com.apple.launchservices.secure.plist everything is OK again.

Is there a temporary location where com.apple.launchservices.secure.plist details are held until they are updated? I was wondering where/if the OS would store the file association change the moment that an image is dragged from the Firefox window?

I haven't tried it yet but I was considering locking down the com.apple.launchservices.secure.plist using the following command in the terminal:

chmod 444 ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices/com.apple.LaunchServices.secure.plist

and to unlock:

chmod 644 ~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.LaunchServices/com.apple.LaunchServices.secure.plist

but if the com.apple.launchservices.secure.plist is not actually being changed when the image is dragged out of Firefox I don't see that this will have any affect (I'll report back once I have a chance to test).

Certainly OK for a temporary fix to "save as" instead, but a complete pain in the **** to have to do so. Would love to know what Firefox is doing to the OS to make this file association change happen and if there is a way to prevent it.

I just tried it again with FireFox and after dragging out an image (JPG) the extension showed. I didn't open it, but opening a JPG from a folder that had also had its association changed to be opened with FireFox, so I had to use Get Info to 'change all' back to Graphic Converter. it's one thing it claiming ownership of an image from FireFox, but it's really peculiar that it then re-writes everything else.

I forgot to test Mavericks. Which version of Firefox are you running?

As far as the extension, it seems to depend on the website. Plus, I was just doing a Google search and dragging an image from the results. However, if I click on view image first, then it retains the extension. This internet stuff is tricky. 😎

Agreed! I expect it's to do with more system side things being locked down in the newer OSX's so that FF is unable to make those association changes.

No other issues for me, and I've got it all personalized with the chrome.css folder - could not stand the new design and had relied on the Classic Theme Restorer previously.

Was working fine with FF56, but I guess I'll just update to 10.12 - hate having to upgrade when everything is working fine. Always seems to introduce other issues to be overcome, but have to bite the bullet at some stage.