How to Change Default Apps in Android

You’ve probably been assigning default apps the entire time you’ve been using your Android device without even realizing it. The prompt is such a common part of using an Android that many users don’t notice that they’re making decisions that will determine how their device will behave from that point forward.

If you tap a link to an Instagram picture, Android may ask if you want to open the image with your Chrome browser or your Instagram app. With word documents, do you want to use Google Docs or Open Office? Twitter or Hootsuite? Gallery or Photos? Sure, Android will ask whether you want to use this app just once or always, but many of users find themselves tapping “Always” without really thinking about it.

By design, the Android operating system attempts to adapt to your preferences and keep the number of redundant prompts to a minimum. If you always open links to instagram.com with your Instagram app, then it tries to give you the option to skip that prompt.

Here we’ll explore how to gain full control over the apps your Android device uses by default. From your messaging apps to your launcher, all defaults can be changed, set, and reset with the following steps.

How to Set a Default App if None Exists

The Android operating system has a pretty neat feature called “implicit intent.” Basically, if the user or an app calls for the device to do something like “take a picture,” then the operating system will look for an app that can get the job done. If more than one option exists, then Android will ask the user which they would prefer. This makes the process of setting default apps easy and intuitive.

Begin a New Activity

Start an activity that you want to assign a default app to. This could range from clicking a link to a specific service to opening a certain type of file. If no options pop up, then that means one of two things: either you only have one app that can complete the activity, or you’ve already set a default app for the activity.

Choose Always

A dialogue box will appear and provide you with a list of apps that you can use. Choose the app you want. When asked if you would like to use this app “Only once” or “Always,” choose “Always” to set this app as the default for this activity.

Continue Along Your Way

Since the app is now established as the default, whenever you perform that activity, Android will be sure to use your preferred app. Now you don’t have to select which app to use every time!

Note that if you download a new app that can perform the same function, Android will provide the dialogue box again to see if you want to use your new app instead.

Change Individual Default Apps

Let’s say you want to mix things up a bit. What if you decide you don’t want to use the Instagram app anymore? Now you want to open Instagram pictures with your internet browser. How do you stop Android from always opening Instagram links with the Instagram app?

No problem! Just reset that app’s defaults and choose a new default the next time you’re prompted.

Go to Settings

First, go to your Android’s settings. This is almost always a gear-shaped icon that can be located among your apps or in a pulldown menu from your homescreen.

Go to App Settings

Under Settings, locate “Apps” or “App Settings.” Then choose the “All Apps” tab near the top.

Choose the App

Find the app that Android is currently using by default. This is the app you don’t want to use anymore for this activity.

Reset Default settings

On the App’s settings, choose Clear Defaults.

Return to the Process

Head back to the activity you want to perform. For instance, if you cleared Instagram’s defaults, you might click on an Instagram.com link again. This will trigger an “implicit intent,” and since Android no longer has a default set up, it will ask you which app you would prefer to use.

Select New Default App

Tap the app you want to start using instead and then tap “Always.”

You’re done!

Mission accomplished. From now on, Android will regard your chosen app as the default for this activity.

Change Default Apps by Function

Unlike Windows, Android doesn’t keep a running list of all default apps in one easy-to-find location. However, you can use an app called Default App Manager to check out what defaults have been set. An excellent feature of this app is that it lets you assign defaults to whole categories of intent.

Get the App

Download and install Default App Manager from the Google Play Store.

Find the Right Category

Launch the app to see a list of defaults. Use the “Category Wise” tab to view commonly used activities by category. This sorts defaults into broad groups like camera use, browser, email, or calendar. From here you can reset or apply defaults to apps associated with these categories.

Clear Defaults

Select the category you want to reset, and tap the Clear Defaults option. Now all defaults associated with that category will be freed up to re-assign.

Nuclear Option: Reset all Default Apps

If you can’t quite figure out which app default is giving you fits and the option to choose a new default isn’t appearing no matter what you do, there’s still hope!

However, bear in mind that going through with this procedure will also enable all disabled apps, reset any app notification options, remove any background data restrictions or permission restrictions placed on specific apps. You won’t lose any data, but if you play around with your apps’ settings a lot, you might have to do a fair amount of reconfiguring.

Go to Settings

Start by accessing Settings via the gear icon in your app tray or homescreen pulldown menu.

Go to App Settings

Find the “Apps” or “App Settings” listing and tap it.

Tap the Options Icon

From the list of apps, tap the Options icon in the top right-hand corner of the screen. This icon is almost always three vertical dots.

Reset all Defaults

From the menu that drops down, select “Reset app preferences.”

A warning screen will pop up alerting you that this will do more than merely reset all defaults. Again, you will not lose any data. Tap “Reset Apps” to confirm the operation. Now you will be free to choose all new default apps through the normal methods.

Conclusion

The whole point of default apps is to make your interaction with your Android device easier and quicker. Don’t let accidentally assigned app defaults slow you down! Take control of your device by getting rid of unwanted defaults and assigning ones you really like.