---
title: "Change your default apps"
slug: change-your-default-apps
summary: "Tell your phone which app opens what, in about ten minutes."
difficulty: easy
time_minutes: 10
android_min: 8
tested_on: []
categories: [browser, dialer, sms, gallery]
apps: [org.mozilla.fennec_fdroid, org.fossify.phone, org.fossify.messages, com.diune.pictures]
requires: []
risk: "Links, calls or photos open in a different app. Change the default back the same way."
published: 2026-10-17
updated: 2026-10-17
author: Unstock
featured: true
oneliner: "New apps, same taps."
steps: 5
---

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.

## What can go wrong

The wrong app opens for a tap. Set the default back in the same screen. Nothing is deleted.

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

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

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

:::step 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.

:::step 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.