TekRevue

  • Home
  • OS X
  • Windows
  • Mobile
  • Games
  • Home Theater
  • Reviews
  • Editorials
  • Tips
    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Mobile
  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Feed

 000

OS X / Tips

Rebuild LaunchServices to Fix Duplicate Entries in OS X’s ‘Open With’ Menu

By Jim Tanous on February 13, 2014 at 2:12 PM • @mggjim

While most files in OS X are configured to open with a specific application by default, users have the option to use a handy “Open With” menu, found by right-clicking (or Control-clicking) on a file. This lets users keep a default application for viewing most files, but still have quick access to another compatible application when needed. A great example is setting OS X to open image files with Preview by default, but using the Open With menu to open the image with Photoshop for editing tasks.

Try Audible and get 2 free audiobooks that are yours to keep forever.

However, the Open With menu can sometimes get out of control. Users who have upgraded their apps over time might find old versions referenced in the list, and those who migrate their OS X installation to a new drive could see duplicate entries.

Duplicate LaunchServices Entries in OS X Open With Menu

Something similar happened when we moved our TekRevue production Mac from an iMac to a Mac Pro. We migrated our data by cloning the iMac’s drive to the Mac Pro’s, which worked fine except we had duplicate entries of all of our applications in the Open With menu.

To fix this, we need to reset OS X’s LaunchServices database. As is the case with most actions in OS X, there are multiple ways to accomplish this task, but the fastest is to simply use a Terminal command.

Our test system is running OS X Mavericks 10.9.1, but these instructions work with OS X Lion and OS X Mountain Lion as well. To get started, close all open applications and then launch Terminal from Macintosh HD > Applications > Utilities. Copy and paste the following command at the Terminal prompt and press Return to execute it:

/System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

Terminal will appear to freeze for a few moments as the command is processed. When it’s finished, you’ll see a new prompt appear in the window. You can now close Terminal and head back to your Desktop. Find a file you need to access using the Open With menu and you’ll now see that the list is cleaned up, with duplicate and outdated entries gone.

Rebuilt LaunchServices Entries in OS X Open With Menu

Note that we didn’t have to reboot our Mac to see the results of the command, but if you don’t see a change on your end, try rebooting before resorting to other methods.

Alternative Methods of Rebuilding LaunchServices

The Terminal method described above is easy and may not even require a reboot, but there are two other ways to rebuild LaunchServices if you are so inclined. The first is to use an application called OnyX, which can perform and automate a number of OS X maintenance tasks. Once you launch OnyX, you’ll find LaunchServices listed in Maintenance > Rebuild. Just check the LaunchServices box and press Execute to rebuild it.

Another option is to manually delete the LaunchServices preference file. Quit all open applications and navigate to ~/Library/Preferences. Locate com.apple.LaunchServices.plist, delete the file, then reboot your Mac. This should accomplish the same result as using OnyX or the Terminal command, above.

 000

  • Categories: OS X / Tips
  • Tags: #Finder #How To #LaunchServices #OS X #Tips

Sign Up for the TekRevue Weekly Digest

Read more in OS X or Tips on TekRevue

  • mac web browsers
    How to Change Your Homepage on the Mac (And Why You Might Need To)

    Filed Under: OS X

  • siri mac sierra
    15 Cool Ways to Use Siri in macOS Sierra

    Filed Under: OS X

  • mac app store updates
    How to Make the Mac App Store Check for Updates More Frequently

    Filed Under: OS X

  • David Condrey

    Just run this in Terminal. /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user

  • Grande Americano

    We have just released several apps – Contact Clearout and Contact Duplicates – on the Mac App Store designed to give you full control over duplicate removal.

    Both apps allow you to review the duplicates side-by-side before deleting (with drag and drop editing between them).

    They also root out the duplicates that cause hidden problems – the duplicates that aren’t identical – duplicates entered in different ways on different platforms.

    there’s more info at http://www.grandeamericano.com or on the Mac App store.

  • Stijn lauwerys

    After updating to 10.11.3 on one of our MacPro’s we appeared not to have any functional applications left, not even terminal or other system services. From Terminal it was clear everything was still there though. I deducted launch services had to be the corrupted in some way. This problem also slowed the MacPro to a crawl. Using the terminal command above from an other computer things returned to normal, except for the icons in the dock. That got solved by deleting dock preferences and restarting the dock. Your suggestion seems to solve more problems with launch services than stated here. Lots of thanks!

    • henrybowman

      Indeed. In my case, I had an AppleScript that was adamantly failing to launch a particular app for months, and wouldn’t run unless the app was manually opened beforehand. Someone suggested this procedure and it fixed the problem immediately.

  • Carol F Metzger

    com.apple.LaunchServices.plist does not appear to exist in El Capitan

Search

Related Articles

  • siri mac sierra
    15 Cool Ways to Use Siri in macOS Sierra
  • tv screen size
    How to Calculate the Optimal TV Screen Size Based on Resolution and Distance
  • Xbox Games with Gold List
    The Complete Xbox Games with Gold List and Details

Connect with TekRevue

  • TekRevue on Twitter
  • TekRevue on Facebook
  • TekRevue on Google+
  • Cheats
  • Deals
  • Distractions
  • Editorials
  • Gadgets
  • Games
  • Giveaway
  • Hardware
  • Home Theater
  • Mobile
  • News
  • More in OS X
  • Podcast
  • Reviews
  • Sponsor
  • Tips
  • Windows
  • mac web browsers
    How to Change Your Homepage on the Mac (And Why You Might Need To)
  • siri mac sierra
    15 Cool Ways to Use Siri in macOS Sierra
  • mac app store updates
    How to Make the Mac App Store Check for Updates More Frequently
  • mac contacts app
    Organize and Manage Your Mac Contacts with Smart Groups
  • mac screenshot clipboard
    Quick Tip: Copy Mac Screenshots Directly to the Clipboard
  • change default browser safari
    How to Change the Default Web Browser on Your Mac
  • print maps mac
    How to Print Directions From Your Mac Using the Apple Maps App
  • email macbook
    Three Tips for Creating Professional Emails on the Mac
  • quicktime x autoplay
    How to Enable QuickTime X Autoplay
  • mac contacts app
    How to Remove Duplicate Contacts on Your Mac
  • quicktime x
    How to Edit Video on Your Mac with Quicktime
  • storage disk almost full mac
    5 Tips to Free Disk Space on Your Mac
  • mac printer problem
    4 Tips for Fixing Mac Printer Problems
  • finder file path directories
    How to Open Files with Different Programs on the Mac
  • macos sierra installer
    How to Create a macOS Sierra USB Installer for the Developer Preview
  • macos sierra system requirements
    macOS Sierra System Requirements
  • quicktime x
    How to Loop a Video in QuickTime X for Mac OS X
  • photos macbook
    How to Delete All of Your iPhone or iPad Pictures at Once
  • Mail Icon Aqua Background
    How to Fix Incorrect Email Address Suggestions in Mail for Mac OS X
  • activity monitor mac os x
    Get a Better Look at Your Mac By Viewing Processes Hierarchically in Activity Monitor

Tips

  • Apps
  • Gaming
  • Mac
  • Mobile
  • Online
  • Windows
  • gotomeeting mac
    Quick Tip: Remove Old Versions of GoToMeeting for Mac
  • spell check word
    How to Turn Off Real-Time Spell Check in Microsoft Word
  • format skype text chats
    How to Format Skype Text Chats
  • chrome for mac os x
    How to Test Chrome’s Native Notifications for Mac
  • classic solitaire windows xp
    How to Play Classic Windows XP Solitaire in Windows 10
  • ipad controller game
    How to Set Up and Game With an iOS Controller on Your iPhone or iPad
  • ps4 remote play mac
    How to Change PS4 Remote Play Resolution & Frame Rate on the Mac
  • steam trash
    How to Remove a Game From Your Steam Library
  • mac web browsers
    How to Change Your Homepage on the Mac (And Why You Might Need To)
  • siri mac sierra
    15 Cool Ways to Use Siri in macOS Sierra
  • mac app store updates
    How to Make the Mac App Store Check for Updates More Frequently
  • mac contacts app
    Organize and Manage Your Mac Contacts with Smart Groups
  • iphone app refresh
    Save iPhone Battery Life by Disabling Background App Refresh
  • iphone mail unread badge
    How to Manage iPhone Email Notifications and Hide the Unread Mail Badge
  • iphone dictation
    How to Disable iPhone Dictation in iOS
  • iphone flight info
    How to View Flight Info on Your iPhone
  • youtube loop
    How to Loop YouTube Videos
  • netflix bandwidth data usage
    How to Reduce Netflix Bandwidth Usage to Avoid ISP Data Caps
  • netflix autoplay
    How to Stop Netflix From Automatically Playing the Next Episode
  • distracted man computer
    How to Turn Off Distraction-Free Mode in WordPress
  • speakers
    Quickly Change the Audio Playback Device in Windows 10 Anniversary Update
  • windows 10 snipping tool
    How to Take Windows 10 Screenshots with the Snipping Tool
  • windows 10 action center icon taskbar
    How to Hide the Action Center Taskbar Icon in the Windows 10 Anniversary Update
  • create pdf windows
    How to Create a PDF from Multiple Images in Windows 10
Company
  • About TekRevue
  • Get in Touch
  • Sponsorships

Sign Up for the TekRevue Weekly Digest

© TekRevue LLC. All Rights Reserved.

  • TekRevue User Agreement
  • TekRevue Privacy Policy

Built by Blazer Six