How to change a default application on your Android phone or tablet?
Changing the default application on Android is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. This can be useful if you prefer to use a different app for certain tasks, such as opening links or viewing photos. Learn how to set an app as default in Android.
Android phone manufacturers add value to their products by selling them with a lot of pre-installed apps. Many of which you may not want. You can change the default apps on your Android device. You may have your own favorite app that you like to use for browsing the internet, or checking email, or listening to music, etc. (How to delete apps on Android?)
Simple Steps to set a default app in Android:
This procedure may vary slightly depending on your phone model and which operating systems you have. These steps were created based on the Android 12 operating system version.
To change the default app:
- First you need to find the app you want to use and download and install it on your device (How to Install Apps on Android?).
- Then when you open a file that can be used by more than one app, you will get a pop-up asking you what app you want to use for that file type.
- For example, if you touch on a mp3 file to open it, the smartphone will give you a pop-up asking which app to use. You can select your favorite app and then click on the “always use” app option. Then that app becomes the default app for that file type, .mp3 in this example.
If you want to specify on your device all the default apps you want to use, so you avoid the pop-up asking which app to use, you can:
- Open the Settings app.
- Touch Apps & notifications.
- Touch See all apps.
- Touch the app whose default you want to change.
- Touch Open by default.
- Touch Supported links and choose the link types that you want to open with this app by default.
- Touch Open supported links.
To clear the default setting, follow the same procedure, but instead of touching “Set as Default” or “Open by default” touch “Clear Defaults”.
Tips to set defaults on Android:
- You can set a default app for opening any file type. To do this, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Tap and hold the app you want to change > App info > Advanced > Open by default > Supported links.
- You can also set a default app for opening links from a specific website. To do this, go to the website in Chrome and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Then, tap Open in app and choose the app you want to use.
- If you’re not sure which app to set as the default for a particular task, you can try different apps until you find one that you like.
Having trouble to setting the default app on Android? try the following:
- Make sure that the app you want to set as the default is installed on your phone.
- Make sure that the app has the permissions necessary to open the link or file type you want to set it as the default for.
- Restart your phone.
- Clear the cache and data for the Settings app. To do this, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Tap and hold the Settings app > App info > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear storage.
Additional helpful information
Here is some additional helpful information for setting default apps on Android:
- You can reset all default apps to their factory settings by going to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Tap the three dots in the top right corner > Reset app preferences.
- If you’re using a third-party launcher, you may be able to set default apps directly from the launcher. To do this, check the launcher’s settings.
- Some apps may not allow you to change them as the default app for certain tasks. This is usually because the app is designed to be the default app for those tasks.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ) and answers to set default app on Android:
Q: What is a default app?
A: A default app is the app that automatically opens when you try to open a particular file type, link, or email. For example, the default app for opening web pages is usually Google Chrome.
Q: Can I set a default app for opening any file type?
A: Yes, you can set a default app for opening any file type. To do this, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Tap and hold the app you want to change > App info > Advanced > Open by default > Supported links.
Q: Can I set a default app for opening links from a specific website?
A: Yes, you can set a default app for opening links from a specific website. To do this, go to the website in Chrome and tap the three dots in the top right corner. Then, tap Open in app and choose the app you want to use.
Q: What should I do if I can’t find the option to set a default app for a particular task?
A: Some apps may not allow you to change them as the default app for certain tasks. This is usually because the app is designed to be the default app for those tasks. For example, you can’t set a different app as the default app for opening links from the Google Chrome app.
Q: What should I do if I changed the default app for a particular task, but it keeps opening in the old app?
A: Try restarting your phone. If that doesn’t work, clear the cache and data for the Settings app. To do this, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Tap and hold the Settings app > App info > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear storage.
Q: What should I do if I reset all default apps to their factory settings, but my preferred apps are not opening as the default apps?
A: This can happen if the apps you prefer are not installed on your phone. Make sure to install the apps you prefer and set them as the default apps for the tasks you want them to open.
Common problems and solutions to set default app on Android:
Problem: I can’t find the option to set a default app for a particular task.
Solution: Some apps may not allow you to change them as the default app for certain tasks. This is usually because the app is designed to be the default app for those tasks. For example, you can’t set a different app as the default app for opening links from the Google Chrome app.
Problem: I changed the default app for a particular task, but it keeps opening in the old app.
Solution: Try restarting your phone. If that doesn’t work, clear the cache and data for the Settings app. To do this, go to Settings > Apps & notifications > See all apps > Tap and hold the Settings app > App info > Storage & cache > Clear cache and Clear storage.
Problem: I can’t set a default app for opening links from a specific website.
Solution: Make sure that the app you want to set as the default is installed on your phone and that it has the permissions necessary to open links. You can also try restarting your phone or clearing the cache and data for the Settings app.
Problem: I reset all default apps to their factory settings, but my preferred apps are not opening as the default apps.
Solution: This can happen if the apps you prefer are not installed on your phone. Make sure to install the apps you prefer and set them as the default apps for the tasks you want them to open.
Conclusion
Setting a default app on Android is a simple process that can be done in just a few steps. This can be useful if you prefer to use a different app for certain tasks, such as opening links or viewing photos.
