Unable to set public.folder or public.data in macOS 26.4 #12

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1. scriptingosx commented on Apr 14, 2026

   

   scriptingosx

   on Apr 14, 2026

   Owner

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   this is quite certainly a limitation from the system.

   I can recreate the problem. I get error -50 when trying to set the default for public.folder and public.data

   Unfortunately, Apple doesn't document any of this. Please file feed back with them. 🤷

   👀React with 👀1Reacted by Jason Han
2. scriptingosx

   added

   supportsupport questionsupport question

   on Apr 14, 2026
3. ssbarnea commented on May 5, 2026

   

   ssbarnea

   on May 5, 2026

   Last edited by ssbarnea

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   I wonder if sudo might help here... basically Apple prevents us from ditching their TextEdit.app

   > utiluti type public.data
   /System/Applications/TextEdit.app
   
   > utiluti type set public.data /Applications/Cursor.app
   cannot set default app for public.data (error 1)
   
   > utiluti type set public.data com.todesktop.230313mzl4w4u92
   cannot set default app for public.data (error -50)

   That is bummer as that seems to be the only way to make all dotfiles (files starting with dot and likely no extension) open in your preferred editor.
4. uuip commented on Jul 19, 2026

   

   uuip

   on Jul 19, 2026

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   docker-templates/pause [ main][🐳 colima]
   ❯ utiluti file get-uti ./Dockerfile
   public.data
   
   docker-templates/pause [ main][🐳 colima]
   ❯ utiluti file app ./Dockerfile
   /System/Applications/TextEdit.app
   
   docker-templates/pause [ main][🐳 colima]
   ❯ utiluti app id /Applications/Visual\ Studio\ Code.app 
   com.microsoft.VSCode
   
   docker-templates/pause [ main][🐳 colima]
   ❯ utiluti type set public.data com.microsoft.VSCode
   cannot set default app for public.data (error -50)

   I have always wanted to change the default application associated with Dockerfile, but I have never been able to do it successfully.