Why is the ‘Open With’ option greyed out on my Mac even though I have multiple apps installed?

I experienced a similar issue with the ‘Open With’ menu on my Mac, and what worked for me was a combination of methods. Firstly, double-check that the file isn’t corrupted by trying to open it with the application directly (File -> Open). Sometimes, certain system caches might be causing this odd behavior, so clearing the system cache using an app like CleanMyMac could help. Ironically, a simple reboot occasionally resolves such issues for me. If nothing works, consider checking the Console app for any relevant error messages while attempting to access ‘Open With’. This can give you some clues on what’s going wrong.

I’ve had similar issues before, and a few less-obvious solutions might help:
1. Reset PRAM: Sometimes, resetting the parameter RAM (PRAM) can resolve unexpected macOS behaviors. Restart your Mac and hold down Option, Command, P, and R keys simultaneously. Keep holding until the Mac restarts and you hear the startup sound again.
2. Check for System Updates: Ensure your macOS is updated. Apple regularly releases bug fixes that could resolve the issue.
3. Create a Backup and Reinstall macOS: If nothing else works, back up your data and perform a clean installation of the operating system. This is a last resort but can effectively solve persistent system bugs.

The issue where the ‘Open With’ option is greyed out on your Mac might be a bit tricky. From my experience, it’s usually connected to permission problems or an issue with the macOS file system. First, run Disk Utility and use the ‘First Aid’ function to scan and repair the disk. Often, Disk Utility repairs minor corruptions that can affect the operating system, including issues like this one. If the problem persists, consider creating a new user profile. It’s not an ideal solution, but if the issue doesn’t carry over, then it’s specific to your user profile and not the system itself.

From my perspective, the graying out of the ‘Open With’ option could be due to corruption in preference files. Here’s a detailed approach that might help:
1. Open Finder and navigate to ~/Library/Preferences.
2. Look for com.apple.LaunchServices.plist and move it to the Trash.
3. Restart your Mac.
This action forces your Mac to rebuild the preference file upon restarting, which can solve various system-related issues, including context menu problems like the one you’re experiencing.

In my experience, the ‘Open With’ option becoming greyed out was related to the default app settings on my Mac. Here’s how I fixed it:
– Right-click the problematic file and select “Get Info”.
– Under the ‘Open with:’ section, see if the current default application is set. If it looks empty or odd, click on the drop-down menu and pick the right application manually.
– Click ‘Change All…’ to apply this as the default for all files of this type.
– Close the window and try again.
This simple reset can sometimes clear any internal confusion macOS might have about file associations.

The ‘Open With’ option being greyed out on your Mac can be caused by a few different factors. Here’s a step-by-step guide to diagnose and solve the issue:
1. Check File Permissions: Sometimes, the file permissions can restrict certain actions. Right-click the file, select ‘Get Info’, and check the permissions at the bottom. Ensure you have read and write access.
2. Rebuild Launch Services Database: This can help refresh the application associations. Open the Terminal and type sudo /System/Library/Frameworks/CoreServices.framework/Frameworks/LaunchServices.framework/Support/lsregister -kill -r -domain local -domain system -domain user. Press Enter and wait for the process to complete.
3. Update or Reinstall Applications: If the related applications are outdated or corrupted, it might prevent them from appearing. Ensure your apps are up to date from the App Store or their respective websites.
4. Try Safe Mode: Restart your Mac and hold down the Shift key until you see the Apple logo. Once the Mac starts in Safe Mode, check if the ‘Open With’ menu works correctly.