When offering an impressive range of native features and functionalities, no operating system comes close to macOS. The operating system that powers up all Macs comes equipped with tons of top-tier native applications and utilities that facilitate users to perform specific tasks without hassle. Moreover, to ensure users have an exceptional experience while using native apps, Apple rolls out a major annual macOS update that brings in numerous upgrades to the utilities. According to Apple, the latest iteration of macOS, namely macOS Ventura, features numerous revamped native utilities, including apps like Messages, Spotlight, Safari, etc.
However, there are instances when macOS users wish to use a similar app instead of the default native utility. For instance, some users may prefer using Google Chrome instead of the default Safari browser. Similarly, some may opt to use another instant messaging app instead of using Messages. Users can abstain from using native apps in two ways, i.e., by uninstalling or changing them. For instance, if you are wondering how to delete apps on Mac that won’t delete, such as certain native utilities, there are numerous ways following which you can get the job done. For instance, you can try moving them to the Trash folder to abstain from using them. Besides this, you can also remove obsolete apps using the Finder utility or a third-party tool like CleanMyMac X. Moreover, users can prevent themselves from using native apps by disabling them.
The second method by which users can use third-party apps instead of native ones is by setting other apps as the default ones. This article will list some of the most used default apps that macOS features and how users can change them. Let us dive right into it:
- Safari
Safari is the native web browser of all Apple products, including Macs. It is an exceptional browser that offers users an immersive web browsing experience. The native macOS utility offers top-tier safety and security. Moreover, it has a simple and minimalistic interface that facilitates users to browse through and use the features of the browser conveniently. However, macOS is also compatible with numerous other browsers, including popular ones like Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Opera, etc.
If you are someone who wishes to use a browser other than Safari, you can remove Safari as the default browser and use your preferred browser for performing all web-based activities. You can remove Safari as your Mac’s default web browser by opening the System Preferences section, clicking on General, navigating to the Default web browser option and selecting the browser of your choice after removing Safari. Once you have made and applied the changes, your browser of choice will open whenever you click on any link.
To ensure users face no trouble while writing an email, reviewing received ones or performing any email-related tasks, macOS offers users a default emailing application called Mail. Like other default macOS apps, the Mail app also features a simple and elegant user interface. It packs many useful features, from the compose functionality to separate inboxes. However, unlike native apps, Mail does not feature all the latest and greatest features and functionalities. Hence, some users prefer using other mail client applications over the Mail utility.
Suppose you wish to use a different email client on your Mac. In that case, all you need to do is open the Mail app, click on the Mail option followed by “Preferences”, click on the dropdown menu present beside the “Default email reader” option, and select the preferred email client that you wish to use instead of the default one. Once you have made the changes, the newly-set mail app will open every time you begin composing a new email.
- Preview
The Preview app is a versatile native utility of macOS that allows users to open numerous files, including images and documents. It is a powerful utility that facilitates users to open any file without hassle. However, like other native utilities, the Preview app also lacks some features and has limitations that sometimes prevent macOS users from accessing certain files. Hence, most individuals prefer using another app or software to open and access certain file types.
To open any file with your preferred choice of application, all you need to do is open the Finder app on your Mac present on the Dock, right-click on the file you wish to open, click on the “Get info” option, select the “Open With” option and choose the app or utility using which you wish to open the file type. If you wish to use the app to open all files of the same type, click on the “Change All” option. You can also use the same method for changing other default apps.
If you are a macOS user tired of using native utilities, refer to the abovementioned points to replace them with better utilities of your choice.
