Setting Excel as the Default Program for Opening CSV Files on Windows and Mac

This article will guide you through the process of setting Excel as the default program on both Windows and Mac operating systems.

Microsoft Excel is a powerful tool for managing data, including CSV files.

By making Excel your default program for opening CSV files, you can simplify your workflow and open these files more quickly and efficiently.

For Windows Users:

• Right-Click Method:
  1. Locate any CSV file in Windows Explorer.
  2. Right-click the file, and select "Open with..." from the context menu.
  3. Choose "Choose another app."
  4. Under "Other options," select "Excel."
  5. Check the "Always use this app to open .csv files" box.
  6. Click "OK" to confirm.
• File Associations Method:
  1. Open the Control Panel on your Windows machine.
  2. Navigate to "Default Apps" and select “Choose default apps by file type"
  3. Scroll down to find the ".csv" extension.
  4. Select Microsoft Excel from the list of available programs.
  5. Click "OK" to save the changes.

For Mac Users:

• Right-Click Method:
  1. Locate any CSV file on your Mac.
  2. Right-click the file and select "Open with" > "Excel."
• Finder's Preferences Method:
  1. Open Finder and go to "Preferences" from the "Finder" menu.
  2. In the "General" tab, find the section labeled "Open with."
  3. Choose "Microsoft Excel" for .xlsx or .csv files.
• Alternative Finder Method:
  1. Locate any CSV file on your Mac.
  2. Right-click the file and choose "Get Info."
  3. In the "Open with" section, choose "Microsoft Excel" from the dropdown.
  4. Click "Change All" to set Excel as the default for all CSV files.