Clean up Finder contextual "Open With" menu list

This is an annoying 'feature' of the Finder in OS X. As you install/upgrade applications the contextual menu "Open With" gets bloated with multiple programs including programs you've deleted, plus multiple versions of programs you've upgraded. For example for JPEGs I have three entries for ImageWell.
[One of the tips I found|http://the-fergusons.net/2007/05/01/clean-up-the-mac-os-x-contextual-open -with-menu> seaching doesn't work because the folder structure in 10.5.x is now different.
Also [this method|http://macapper.com/2007/10/08/tutorial-clear-the-finders-open-with-menu > of deleting plist file doesn't work properly.
Anyone know how to:
a) Clean up the list of shown apps fully
b) Optionally restrict the list to applications shown to only those which you wish to have come up. For example don't show Apple Pages for .TXT files only TextEdit and TextMate.

FromOZ wrote:
[One of the tips I found|http://the-fergusons.net/2007/05/01/clean-up-the-mac-os-x-contextual-open-with-m enu> seaching doesn't work because the folder structure in 10.5.x is now different.
You can adjust it to Leopard's structure using the 'locate lsregister' command in Terminal. This yielded...
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchSe rvices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister
... on my system... I then appended the options as per the tip you linked and it worked...

Similar Messages

Contextual Open With Menu shows old non-existent Applications

Open With Menu: Shows multiple applications. It even shows versions of older applications that are no longer on my hard drive. And if I select these older version, those older applications launch! I've checked the About... menu selection on these older versions, and sure enough it says the older version. Example: I only have the latest version of Opera 9.24 on my drive, but 3 older versions, plus 4 of one of them show. I can click each one and they ALL launch with separate windows for each one.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=305627
I followed the instructions to trash <com.apple.LaunchServices.plist> file and Restarted and the menu STILL lists all the applications. I then checked the Prefs folder again, and the <com.apple.LaunchServices.plist> hadn't even recreated itself yet.
I'm totally stummped

I just realized that in my previous post I neglected to mention, that the problem has quickly returned. Sorry for any confusion.
Now after two tries, I notice that some .gif files have Preview icons others Photoshop. Some .gif files are listed to open with Preview, others with PS.
If I use Cmd + i on a wrong iconed file and scroll down to any other app, select it, let the icon change, then without doing anything else, scrolling back up to the default (Preview), the icon finally changes correctly. Change All is now available, but clicking it has no effect on any other files that have the PS icon. Some don't even change over from PS being the default app to Preview.
Same problem with .txt files. Some TextEdit, others Excel. So.. I am just changing them one by one, whenever I need to open one that is wrong.
At least the multiple apps in the Open With pulldown are gone
I'd sure like to know:
1) Why are my Library files corrupting and
2) Why is Dr. Smoke's fix creating icon problems
3) Out of the 1,000s of threads, I wonder what the possibility of the good Doctor ever finding this on and helping us/me find a total solution. Help us Dr. Smoke, we need youuuuuuuuuuuuuuu...

Open With Menu Lists Applications 5 times

So my open with menu seems to list applications more than once, for instance it reads
audacity
audacity
audacity
quicktime
quicktime
quicktime
real player
real player
real player....
I am installing leopard tomorrow (migration assistant install). Will that fix the problem? I would rather fix it before, how could I do that?

Look at this post to see how to fix it. Better to do it before applying an update.

Removing items from the Open With Menu List!

I'm not sure how this happened but when I select the Open With
option I have multiple listing of the same applications. there must be a list that is displayed that may be edited.. Can someone help?

Follow the instructions in this thread.
(19138)

"Open With" Menu Listing Duplicates

When I right click on a file to Choose program to Open With some Programs are duplicated. Is there a way to clear up the duplicates?
I found in an older discussion that I should open terminal and run the following command.
/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/L aunchServices.framework/Versions/Current/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain system -domain local -domain user
However all I get is the following error
No such file or directory
Any Suggestions?

Tried that and get this....
lsregister: [OPTIONS] [ <path>... ]
                      [ -apps <domain>[,domain]... ]
                      [ -libs <domain>[,domain]... ]
                      [ -all <domain>[,domain]... ]
Paths are searched for applications to register with the Launch Service database.
Valid domains are "system", "local", "network" and "user". Domains can also
be specified using only the first letter.
-kill     Reset the Launch Services database before doing anything else
-seed     If database isn't seeded, scan default locations for applications and libraries to register
-lint     Print information about plist errors while registering bundles
-convert Register apps found in older LS database files
-lazy n   Sleep for n seconds before registering/scanning
-r        Recursive directory scan, do not recurse into packages or invisible directories
-R        Recursive directory scan, descending into packages and invisible directories
-f        force-update registration even if mod date is unchanged
-u        unregister instead of register
-v        Display progress information
-dump     Display full database contents after registration
-h        Display this help

Help. Need to remove one of the listed QuickTimes from the "open with" menu

When I bring up the 'Open with' menu on an audio file I have QuickTime Player (7.3.1) and just below that I have QuickTime Player (7.2.1). I would like to remove the 7.2.1 listing from this menu. There is on one version on my computer (7.3.1). The last update must have placed the newer listing in this menu and left the older listing. Is there a way to remove the older listing from the open with menu?

Did you ever do an archival and install of your OS? If so, you have what is called previous system fold on your main hard drive. This is where you can find the player to the version. If not I guess what happen to you is strange...mmm... And I guess it could happen.

Open With menu won't clean up with Terminal command

After upgrading to 10.6 last month I can't clean up my open with menu. I ran the following in Terminal and it did nothing to clean up the duplicates:
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchS ervices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user
I used to run the following in Tiger and it never failed to clean up the duplicates:
/System/Library/Frameworks/ApplicationServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServic es.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user
Must I delete “com.apple.LaunchServices” file located in Home/Library/Preferences
OR
Remove launch services preference files, "com.apple.LaunchServices.plist" and "com.apple.LaunchServices.QuarantineEvents" in /username/Library/Preferences/ folder and then run the commands to clear and rebuild the launch services?

Thanks Andy. Running the following in Terminal cleaned up your problem with the Open With menus?
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchSe rvices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user
In December cnet.com wrote about running that command: "It gave only temporary relief to people dealing with sluggish Save and Save as menus." Using Onyx to clear caches and reset launch services was suggested instead. In October and March cnet.com wrote about rebuilding launch services to stop Finder caused crashes in Snow Leopard by trashing the launchservices preference files from user/library and then running the following in Terminal (custom file associations will revert back to default):
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchSe rvices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -seed -rfv -all user, system, local
When I was still running Tiger last year and had a Launch Services problem caused by crashes in the Finder due to misplaced folder aliases, BD Aqua in this forum linked me to The X Lab @
http://www.thexlab.com/faqs/resetlaunchservices.html#Anchor-Reset-47857
where I learned all I needed to do to straighten things out was delete the following cache files from HD/Library/Caches:
com.apple.LaunchServices-0140.csstore
com.apple.LaunchServices-014nnn.csstore
The information about resetting Launch Services at the X Lab stops with Leopard. There are no cache files in Snow Leopard like those from Tiger above and their equivalents in Leopard.

Finder Open With Menu

I'm trying to clean up a Parallels installation, I got tired of it locking up my system when shutting down the VM, any way it added a host of Windows Applications to the Open With Menu in Finder.
I've tried following a few older suggestions such as deleteing the com.apple.LaunchServices.plist from ~/LIbrary/Preferences folder, however this trick doesn't appear to have any affect on finder 10.5
So Im at a loss on how to clean this up...
Any help is greatly appreciated...
Thank yoiu

rebuild your launch services database.
run the following terminal command
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

Removing Items Finder Open With Menu

I'm looking for a way to delete items from the Open With menu in Finder/File/Open With. On my PowerBook there are over fifty items in this menu when selecting a JPEG file.
Maybe there is away.
I'm using a Panther drive 10.3.9
Photoscene

Photoscene-
I'm not sure this addresses your exact situation or not, but the following link:
http://www.macosxhints.com/article.php?story=20031215144430486#comments
suggests a method for removing items from the "open with" menu that shouldn't be there.
I have NOT tried the above, so use the usual cautions (backup beforehand, etc.).
Good luck,
Alan
cube Mac OS X (10.3.9)

Finder freeze at " Open with" menu

While I right click a MP3 file and try to select another application to open it.
The finder freeze at "Open With" menu
My Mac is 3.1 GHz Intel Core i5 and OS X 10.8 (12A269)

Try that rebuilding the LaunchServices register. Launch /Application/Utilities/Terminal and copy & paste the following command:
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user
Then hit "enter'.
Edit: sorry the command got damaged - hopefully fixed now.
Then log out and back in.

Duplications in "Open With" menu

Sometimes after I upgrade an application, the "Open with" menu item in the Finder lists this application twice. Curiously, it doesn't list the duplication in all accounts. Is there any way I can remove the duplicates?

Esaheiskanen, looking at the screenshot, I understand that it was removed properly.
You can simply go to >>>> Go> Utilites> Adobe Installer's and remove the CS6 App installed, Make sure you put a check on "Remove Prefrences" too.
Alternatively, you run the Creative Cloud Cleaner Tool, to remove the CS6 Version.
Cheers
LP

I can't select Photoshop CC 2014 when using the "Open with" menu in Windows 7

I have recently installed CC 2014, and uninstalled my CC version. When I go to a jpeg, or any image file in windows explorer, I right-click and "open with" and it isn't listed on my program list to open the file with. I click on "browse programs", find the exe file in adobe-photoshop cc2014 folder and click OK, and it just goes back to the open with menu with no option for photoshop.
Any ideas on how I can get it on that list, so I can open these files from the file location, instead of opening up photoshop and then searching for the file location within photoshop?
Also, I don't have any problems opening up the pictures from within photoshop, just within windows explorer.

I'm having a similar problem, but only with jpg's. I have PS CS6, CC, and CC 2014. Other image file formats function normally with regard to the "open with" list. PS CC 2014 appears on the list. But with jpg's only PS CC appears on the "open with" list and 2014 can't be added by the browsing for it.
The curious thing is that if I have any of the three versions of Photoshop open, click on Photoshop CC in the "open with" list, the image opens in whatever version is already open on my computer. This is true of all image formats. No matter which version I pick from the "open with" list it opens in the currently running program. I use only the latest version so keeping it open all the time is an easy work around. I won't uninstall any of the earlier versions lest more file association quirks result. it would be nice to have this matter fixed.

Can you add Programs to Open With Menu

Is there a way to add programs to the Open With Menu. For example, when you right click on a file you can choose to open it with the default application by selecting Open, or choose other programs to open it with by selecting Open With. Only a few of the programs that can open the files are listed. Is there a way to add programs that I use to list in that list. Right now, everytime I want to open something in a program that is not listed I have to go to Other... and find it in the Application folder. Which is not too convenient. Many programs that I use to open files are not listed for many types of file types, I open them frequently using the Open... window, and I was hoping that Mac would learn to add them, but it did not.
For example, I have VMWare with Windows 7 and Microsoft Office 2010 in it, my default application for WORD documents is Word for Mac 2011, but occasionally I need to open it in Word 2010 in Windows (Certain features that are missing in Mac Word), and I have to browse to fin the Word 2010 Application from the Application Folder. Another example is a program (from the App Store) called ResizeIt (which resizes photos), I have to browse for it everytime even though it is an application just for images.
So, is there a way to edit the Open With Menu for specific file types to include these programs that I use, or do I have to keep browsing to the Application folder and finding it there?
Thank you in advance!!
David

http://apple.stackexchange.com/questions/15030/how-can-i-add-a-new-application-t o-the-open-with-menu
No answer yet, but this group may come up with an answer for you guys

GDM no more "open with" menu after last Gnome upgrade (3.16.0)

Hi,
Using nautilus, I used to have an "open with" menu showing a list of alternative applications to open a file, such as in this picture:
https://ubuntugenius.files.wordpress.co … .png?w=500
This was quite handy as I could use different applications to open the same type of file without changing the default association each time I use an alternative application.
Since I have updated my system, Gnome has been upgraded and now there is only an "open with another application" entry in the "right click menu", which, if I use it, change the default application for the type of the selected file.
The list of alternative applications is still the same as before, but the behaviour is now different, since these application do not appear directly in the menu any more, and since selecting any of them will change the default file-application association. For me, this is a bit annoying since I wants to use two different applications to open the same type of file.
I could not find anything on the internet related to this vanishing of the "open with" menu.
I am curious to know if anybody has the same problem as me. I wonder if it is a feature or if there is a problem somewhere?
-- mod edit: read the Forum Etiquette and only post thumbnails http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/For … s_and_Code [jwr] --
Last edited by charlie (2015-04-14 14:49:02)

That behavior of nautilus seems to be a new "feature". I really have no idea why they change such things.
At least, there's allready a bugreport for this:
https://bugzilla.gnome.org/show_bug.cgi?id=747706

Open with menu not showing icons

Hi, since i installed Mavericks i've been experiencing some issues, and the one i need to solve right know is this:
In this example is only with media players but it happens with other apps too, both system and non-system apps. I've tried this command:
/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Versions/A/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Versions/A/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain user;killall Finder;echo "Open With has been rebuilt, Finder will relaunch"
that is used to delete duplicated items on "Open With" menu but it doesn't solve this Icon issue.. I also deleted com.apple.LaunchServices.plist from ~/Library/Preferences/ and it didn't helped. I don't know what to do anymore.
Please help me out with this, i don't want to do a fresh install again.

OS X does that constantly. If you click anywhere away from the contextual menu to close it, then perform the same right click, then they'll show.

Clean up Finder contextual "Open With" menu list

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