File Associations Keep Changing

I have a problem where some of my file association keep changing the default program, whenever they feel like it. This is mainly happening with PDF and JPEG files opening in Adobe Software, when the default is set to Preview and always has been.

1. I have not updated any software recently nor I did change these associations to begin with

2. I have changed these via Get Info and checked "Always Open With"

3. I have changed these via OPT + RIGHT CLICK "Always Open With"

I am on OS X 10.11.6

27-Inch iMac Late 2012

Posted on Nov 1, 2017 5:52 PM

Top-ranking reply

menlo

Level 1

8 points

Posted on Mar 18, 2018 7:55 PM

A great discussion on this very issue in Mac Rumors. The consensus is that Firefox Quantum is causing the issues. Somehow they are making API calls to the OS and it is messing up the file associations. Not sure how to stop this. Firefox is a great alternative to Safari. You can set up a lot of the Mozilla addons used for Firefox in Google Chrome, too.

Resolved - something keeps changing my "open with" defaults | MacRumors Forums

Some good news about a workaround I've been trying and it seems to be holding.

Courtesy of https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1437281#c23

"For a workaround, browsing to about:config and setting "security.sandbox.content.level" to 2 (instead of the current default value of 3) and then restarting your browser may work. This makes the security sandbox more permissive, but doesn't completely disable it."

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101 replies

Feb 20, 2018 8:39 AM in response to Roger Wilmut1

Not that it matters but, Firefox Nightly is doing the same thing still. 😝

Leolio_

Level 1

4 points

Mar 19, 2018 12:52 AM in response to menlo

Yeah, user mikeytttt suggested it in february and it works perfectly. From my experience all is back to normal, it's a good fix.

jimmosk

Level 1

8 points

Apr 9, 2018 9:24 AM in response to Leolio_

Thank you Leolio_, mikeytttt's suggestion seems to have fixed it for me!

Nov 16, 2017 6:07 AM in response to brenden dv

I tried all of these - and have no other users on my mac - but the issue keep re-occuring. Almost any file type is trying to open inside of Adobe Illustrator (docX, txt, jpeg, png, pdf) which I've NEVER associated them with the program. Is there anything else I can do?

I also ran ETREcheck (found nothing) and did a repair on the drive (nothing changed).

Leolio_

Level 1

4 points

Dec 20, 2017 8:12 AM in response to FormerTeenIdol

I have the same issue. I'm pretty sure they started the day the new Firefox Quantum got released. I tried upgrading the OS (today) and the issue is the same.

So, I started experimenting, because I really really suspect Firefox there.

Computer (2011 iMac) starts, I double click to open a pdf > everything's fine.

Then I open Firefox, and drag and drop an image to the desktop: that image doesn't have a file extension anymore and the OS doesn't detect its type (since the quantum upgrade). Chrome doesn't have this bug. Once this bug is triggered I double click on a PDF, and it opens with Pixelmator or ibooks instead.

So, starting tomorrow, Firefox is out and I'll try working with Chrome. This may very well fix the issue.

Dec 20, 2017 9:24 AM in response to Leolio_

I updated my OS and no longer (for the past several weeks) experience the issue.

Firefox definitely got rid of being able to drag a file to desktop and retain the file extension, but this wasn't where my issue stemmed from. It was every image or preview associated file on my computer randomly changing permissions, those files without extensions would never randomly change, as there was nothing indicating a program to be used.

83sjs8j

Level 1

4 points

Feb 7, 2018 10:20 AM in response to Yorkie29

Nice temporary workaround, Yorkie. I'll have to consider that.

No Adobe products here beyond whatever my browser uses. I notice this issue is not apparent when I begin work each morning.

It begins after I've been up and working for a few hours, but I can't narrow down if things are just slowing down in general or if there is one specific action that I become increasingly likely to do as my work day stretches on that sets it all off.

I use Firefox all day at work and for a while thought that there may be a connection there somehow related to saving images through Firefox or taking screenshots, but I'm not able to recreate the error at will so meh... I have no idea.

I also have issues where Preview will not even be an option when right-clicking, which then makes me have to search for preview, etc. Very annoying and it takes foreeevvver for apps to populate when going through that whole "open with" process.

Feb 27, 2018 9:27 AM in response to mikeytttt

NEW WORKAROUND...

In Firefox browse to about:config and search for setting security.sandbox.content.level

Change the value to 2 (instead of the current default value of 3) and then restart the browser.

Mozilla are aware of the problem and are working on a permanent solution.

jimmosk

Level 1

8 points

Apr 7, 2018 8:38 PM in response to FormerTeenIdol

FormerTeenIdol wrote:

Just checking with everyone here --- are we all using Adobe Products?

Hey, I hadn't realized until you mentioned it, but yes: the two apps that seem to keep overriding my file associations are Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Photoshop Elements 11. Maybe there's some shenaniganry going on where Adobe is trying to encourage people to use their software...?

Nov 26, 2017 3:20 PM in response to FormerTeenIdol

Any other ideas, anyone? It is still happening.

Leolio_

Level 1

4 points

Apr 9, 2018 12:05 AM in response to GPF4537

I don't think it's related, I'm not using any adobe software (bought Pixelmator 8 years ago and still use it).

Try mikeytttt's workaround, I never had an issue since I did.

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File Associations Keep Changing