Settings still persisting after uninstallation and changes

[SleekSnake]

I am pivoting back and forth between QuickTime Player and VLC Media Player, selecting both as my default .mov and .mp4 programs. I cannot uncheck any boxes under UTIs > Viewer, as everything is greyed out.

I have tried to circumvent this by, if VLC is selected as my default "com.apple.quicktime-movie" player, I will check that same box on the QuickTime Player UTIs > Viewer settings. And vice versa. However, that doesn't work. What is also odd is that my system even recognizes that QuickTime Player is my default (when I right click a file and hover over "Open With".

I have tried to uninstall both SwiftDefaultApps and VLC, reinstall, have only one installed, etc. These issues keep persisting even after deleting them (for example, if I delete SwiftDefaultApps and VLC but still have QuickTime, the system still does not recognize that QuickTime is my default - I get similar results if I only delete SwiftDefaultApps but keep VLC).

I would like to completely get rid of all connection or link to SwiftDefaultApps but I am unable to do so even after uninstalling multiple times.

(I created a github account just to make this post. I apologize if I am not being clear enough, I am not a coder nor programmer.)

[Lord-Kamina]

That is not SwiftDefaultApps' fault. This app just gives hints to the macOS LaunchServices, but that in itself moves in mysterious ways.

Keep in mind, apps themselves often define what types they can or cannot work with. The current version of SwiftDefaultApps also uses several deprecated apis, which might make it even more fragile if you're on newer versions of macOS.

Your best chance would be by completely reseting the LaunchServices database (you can google how to do that) and perhaps using a file's info view with "Change all" to configure your preference.

[Lord-Kamina]

P.S. Pro-tip: Just use IINA and you'll likely be a happier person.

[SleekSnake]

Thank you for responding so soon.

Do you think an OS reinstall could also help?

I will start doing the "Change All" in "Get Info" going forward after this. IINA looks good.

[Lord-Kamina]

I mean sure it would but it's completely unnecessary. Much like linux, you almost never need to reinstall macOS in order to fix a problem.

[SleekSnake]

I only ask as I tried to search for some info about resetting Launch Services and it likened that to playing with fire. I barely just got this system so I don't have much data on it and was wondering if that would be better.