Change your default apps. New apps, same taps.

10 min · easy · 5 steps
Time10 min
Difficultyeasy
What can go wrong

Links, calls or photos open in a different app. Change the default back the same way.

A default app is the one your phone opens for a job: links, calls, photos, messages. You choose it in Settings. Swap the default and every tap that used to open the old app opens the new one.

Before you start

  • The replacement app already installed (browser, phone, SMS, gallery, or all of them).
  • Android 8 or newer.
  1. Step 1 of 5

    Open Default apps.

    Open Settings, tap Apps, then Default apps. On Samsung: Settings, Apps, Choose default apps.

  2. Step 2 of 5

    Set the browser.

    Tap Browser app and pick the one you installed. From now on, links open there.

  3. Step 3 of 5

    Set the phone app.

    Tap Phone app (or Opening links / Calling) and pick your dialer. Your number does not change.

  4. Step 4 of 5

    Set SMS.

    Tap SMS app and pick the messaging app that can be the default. TODO: confirm the exact label on Pixel and Samsung One UI 8.

  5. Step 5 of 5

    Set the gallery, if you swapped it.

    Open a photo. If the phone asks which app, pick the new gallery and Always. TODO: Pixel Photos vs Gallery default path needs a device check. ## Undo it Default apps, then pick the app that came with the phone. ## Next guides Move your photos. Or swap the keyboard, the app you touch most.

Undo it

Default apps, then pick the app that came with the phone.

Next guides. Move your photos. Or swap the keyboard, the app you touch most.

Back up before you switch

Ten minutes now. Zero regrets later.

Move your photos to a new gallery

Every photo, every album, nothing left behind.