RTF files automatically opening in Illustrator on Mac

From another discussion, it appears that many, if not all, people experiencing this problem are using Mac OS X El Capitan.

Does anybody here experience this problem on another version of Mac OS X?

Other thread is at:

https://forums.adobe.com/message/10222408

I have been having similar anomalous problems. Specifically, Preview (for PDF) and TextEdit (for RTF) are often no longer the default. I associated the problem with the latest 'quantum' update to Firefox browser, since it seems to most often happen when I use print preview with a PDF > "Open in Preview"... and then oddly Acrobat opens instead. Often when I download a PDF file Acrobat opens instead of Preview. And then all of the other PDFs seem to be reset as well. It happens sometimes (though less often) with RTF, opening in Xcode instead. And as described here, the Open With menu has removed Preview and TextEdit as default apps, so I have to search for them manually to fix it. This is a source of daily frustration and it makes me hate using my computer. I don't know if it's a problem with Firefox, OSX or Adobe, but it is infuriating. This is the only discussion I've found online (I've been looking, also posted it as an issue on the Firefox forums), so I'm glad I'm not alone.

One difference: my main problem is with PDF files opening in Acrobat instead of Preview, but sometimes RTF also. However, my RTF files sometimes open in Xcode rather than Illustrator (never had that happen in particular). I don't know why Xcode would be default for me (it's not first alphabetically, and I also do have Illustrator installed). I haven't noticed this as a problem for other file types.

I have now tried the solution with Onyx above (as well as restarting once in Safe Mode). I believe this has solved the problem. It's hard to verify that it is permanently fixed, but I do have some evidence. Elsewhere I found information about installing the Default Apps prefpane (Rubicode - RCDefaultApp) which is now quite old but still seems to work on current OSX versions. It's another way to set the default apps for different extensions. However, you can also view the Apps themselves including what their associated compatible/default file types are. And that is the hint that this solution actually worked. Before the Onyx fix, TextEdit and Preview were entirely missing from the Apps list in the Default Apps prefpane (just as they were often missing from the Open With menu). But after the fix, they are listed again, with the relevant file types associated too. I hope this is a permanent fix, but even if not it seems to be better (and hopefully longer lasting) than manually resetting it via Get Info every time the problem happens.

Just a follow-up on my last post detailing a possible fix:

I double-clicked on a JPEG file today and Adobe Illustrator launched.

This was not expected and reminiscent of the original problem.

I did a "Command-I" on the JPEG file to see what the default application was for it.

It showed "Adobe Illlustrator."

When I checked the "Open with:" pop-up list, Preview (the expected application) was not on the list.

So, I double-clicked Preview to launch it manually.

It then appeared on the "Open with:" list. And everything started working correctly again.

Weird. All is good for the moment.  I'll update if I see any additional anomalies.

I was plagued by this very problem for a few weeks.  It was driving me nuts. 

I believe I have resolved it.  And, as I suspected earlier, this is not an Adobe problem.

I did a few things.  I'm not sure exactly which one (or which combination) was the cure so I will list what I did.

1.  Get the OnyX application by Titanium Software.  It is free.  Be sure to get the right version for your version of Mac OS X.

Titanium Software - OnyX

2.  Clean your computer caches.  This will require a reboot when done.

3. Rebuild Launch Services.

4. Restart your Mac in "safe mode."  This will rebuild some caches.

To do this, restart your Mac while holding down the "shift" key.

5. Restart your Mac back in regular mode.  Watch all of your file icons resort to their correctly-associated apps.  Say good-bye to this problem.

I have this problem, too.  However, I'm not sure it is a problem with Adobe software.  I think the problem is that the list of text editing applications that Mac OS X creates for the "Open with" menu.  Somehow it lost the right application (in my case: BBEdit) from the list and it just chooses the first app it finds alphabetically -- in our cases, an Adobe app.

From some Googling, it looks like it might be related to a problem with the LaunchServices .plist file.

There is a free app called "OnyX" which can repair this.  It seemed to help me for a while. Now, my problem is back.

See:

How to Remove Duplicates & Customize the “Open With” Menu in Mac OS X « Mac Tips :: Gadget Hacks

BTW, I am using OS X El Capitan 10.11.6.

Illustrator also wants to open all my PNG files. When I changed in the info dialog (in the Finder) it wants to pick Photoshop CS6?!?

I have Photoshop CC 2018 installed. Adobe has screwed everything up.

Maybe do some testing before launch. Just sayin'.

Is anybody else having this problem? I've restarted my mac - same thing. Pain in the butt.

Illustrator 22.0.1 has bugs!

Hi Scott,

Select one of RTF files, Open information of file using Command+I, In Open With tab of the dialog change the program to TextEdit and Clcik ChangeAll button.

Hope This helps

Anish