MacOS – How to make a homebrew application the default for opening certain file types

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I just installed mpv with homebrew on MacOS Catalina. Since I spend equal amounts of time using the terminal and Finder, I would like to open all video files with mpv from Finder. Unfortunately, I don't know how to locate the homebrew app when setting the default application for video files. To be clear, I'd like to open all my video files with mpv from Finder.

I have also tried the solution found in this thread: Set macvim as default application after homebrew installation

But for mpv, there is no .app file. I tried moving and linking the /bin/mpv file but Finder wouldn't allow me to use that application as the default.

Best Answer

Read the FAQ @ https://mpv.io -> Reference -> FAQ

How can I make mpv the default application for opening movie files on macOS (OSX)?

  • Install mpv as an app with Homebrew:
$ brew cask install mpv

  • If you need an alias in Applications/Launchpad, open a Finder window at /usr/local/Caskroom/mpv/your_mpv_version/. In there the mpv.app bundle has been generated. While holding Cmd+Alt, drag this .app into the Applications folder.

  • Use duti to associate files with the application:

$ brew install duti
$ duti -s io.mpv avi all
$ duti -s io.mpv mkv all
$ duti -s io.mpv mp4 all

Or you can do it macOS Finder

Find a video file you want to play in mpv and CMD + I to Get Info on it and then change the default app to be mpv and click Change All button. Rinse and repeat for other file types.

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