How to set default program?

Question

Can anyone help me on how to set the default program that I use? I have tried to open System Info --> Default Program -> change my program, but it won't work, Any idea? Or should I use the Terminal?

I want to replace the default movie player with VLC Media Player because the current movie player is useless to me.

Thanks in advance.

Answer 1

There's yet another GUI solution, which might come handy for you ;)

Try opening the properties (right click -> Properties) of the file type you want to be always played by VLC.

Choose the Open with tab and either choose from a list or add one (by choosing from an extended program list or simply typing vlc as the command)

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EDIT:

... and click on Set as default

Answer 2

Use Ubuntu Tweak - it has a file association manager and you can choose which programs open which file types.

Instructions are on this site http://www.omgubuntu.co.uk/2011/12/new-version-of-ubuntu-tweak-released/

Best way to install is:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:tualatrix/ppa
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install ubuntu-tweak

Answer 3

If the System Info > Default Program doesn't work, then you could try right clicking on whatever video/movie file you want to play, then click Open With, and then select VLC.

If you want further details, this may help you: http://www.johannes-eva.net/change-the-default-application-ubuntu-linux

Answer 4

If you're really desperate, just manually edit the file ~/.local/share/applications/mimeapps.list.

format:

application/TYPE=LAUNCHER.desktop

Just add this under the [Default Applications] section if you want it to be default, or under [Added Associations] if it shouldn't be default.