Five Ways To Change Default Messaging App On Android Tutorial

Changing the default messaging app on your Android device is a straightforward process that allows you to customize your texting experience to your liking. Here are five methods to help you switch to a new messaging app seamlessly.

1. Using the Default Apps Setting

This is one of the most common and straightforward methods to change your default messaging app. Here’s how you can do it:

• Open Settings: Swipe down from the top of your screen to access the quick settings panel, then tap on the gear icon to open the Settings app.
• Navigate to Default Apps: Scroll down and find the "Apps" or "Apps & notifications" section. Tap on it.
• Select SMS App: Look for the "Default apps" option. If you don’t see it, you might need to tap on "Advanced" or use the search bar within Settings to find it. Once you’re in the Default apps section, tap on "SMS app".
• Choose Your New App: You will see a list of all available messaging apps on your device. Select the one you want to set as your default messaging app.

2. Setting Default App Through the Messaging App Itself

Many messaging apps will prompt you to set them as the default when you first open them. Here’s how to do it:

• Open the New Messaging App: Launch the messaging app you want to set as default.
• Follow On-Screen Instructions: When prompted, tap on the option to set the app as your default messaging app. This usually appears as "Set as default" or "Always" when you open the app for the first time.

3. Using the App Info Screen

If the app doesn’t prompt you to set it as default, you can do it through the App info screen:

• Open Settings: Go to the Settings app.
• Find the Messaging App: In the Apps section, find the messaging app you want to set as default.
• Access App Info: Tap on the app to open its App info screen.
• Set as Default: Scroll down and look for the "SMS app" or "Messaging app" option. Tap on it and select the desired messaging app to set as default.

4. Clearing Defaults

If you want to change the default messaging app after it has already been set, you can clear the defaults for the current app:

• Open Settings: Go to the Settings app.
• Find the Current Default App: In the Apps section, find the current default messaging app.
• Clear Defaults: Tap on the app to open its App info screen. Look for the "Open by default" or "Set as default" option and tap on it. Then, select "Clear defaults" or "Clear default preferences".
• Set New Default: Once you clear the defaults, you will be prompted to select a new default messaging app when you open any SMS app.

5. Resetting App Preferences

If you encounter any issues changing the default messaging app, you can reset app preferences to start fresh:

• Open Settings: Go to the Settings app.
• Find App Preferences: Depending on your device, you might need to navigate through different menus. Look for "App preferences" or "Reset app preferences" under the "Apps" or "Advanced" section.
• Reset Preferences: Tap on "Reset app preferences" to reset all app settings to their default state. This will clear all default app settings, allowing you to set a new default messaging app.

Additional Tips

• Permissions: When switching to a new messaging app, you may need to grant permissions such as SMS, Contacts, Media, and Make Calls. Ensure you allow these permissions for the app to function properly.
• Replace Shortcuts: If you have shortcuts to the old messaging app on your Home screen, you will need to replace them with shortcuts to the new app.
• Backup Messages: If you are concerned about losing your messages, consider using a backup tool like Syncios Data Transfer to backup your messages before switching to a new app.

By following these steps, you can easily change your default messaging app on Android and enjoy a more personalized texting experience.