How to remove or change the default app on your Android phone.
As with Windows, Android phones have a specific value assigned to file extensions. If the extension is new, the device tries to find out by itself (or by asking the user) the data type of the file, and then associates one of the applications with it. On the one hand, this is handy, but sometimes it gets in the way, especially if the application can’t handle the file, so you have to change it. We tell you how to change the default application on Android phones.
What is the default application
Default apps are definitely a useful feature that saves you from having to continually select the right option from a long list. You leave an option for all documents with the same extension and you no longer waste time. However, sometimes even with your favorite software, problems can occur.
For example, it may not recognize a document with an unknown solution or it may crash due to its size. And instead of the desired result, the user only receives a set of garbled characters or an unknown error. Therefore, we recommend that you do not check the “always use” box if you doubt the versatility of a software solution.
How to change it
There is usually at least one way to change the default program. In some models you have to look for the configuration in the phone settings, in others you have to change the same configuration. Let’s look at each method separately.
via settings
This method is suitable for those who need to change the associated program for various data types.
The name of the functions may differ slightly from those used on your phone. This is not critical, since each manufacturer translates the shell interface in its own way. Algorithm of actions:
- Open the settings.
- Go to “Apps & notifications”.
- Open the “Advanced Settings” subsection, then select “Default Applications”.
In this section, you will need to select which software solution will open each type of data. To do this, click on the drop-down menu and select the desired program.
Through Browser
The second method will help if you only want to run the document once in another editor, or if you are only going to change the default program for one data type. Action algorithm:
- Find the document you want.
- Keep your finger on it until an additional menu appears.
- From there, select “Open in another app.”
In the menu that opens, it remains only to select the desired option and, if necessary, check the “Always use” box. Note that it is not possible to remove the prompt to select a suitable app in this way (at least on phones where the feature has been tested).
Posible problems
Unfortunately, even in such a simple algorithm something can go wrong. The most common problem occurs when trying to view a file after changing settings. If this is the case, we recommend that you do the following:
- Reboot the device. It’s trivial, but it often helps.
- Temporarily uninstall the program that was being used before.
- Try downloading another browser and opening the document through it.
Sometimes you have to resort to solutions. For example, if we are talking about the Word word processor, to open with it, try:
- Open Word itself.
- Go to the “File” section.
- Select “Open”.
- Find the desired file in the file browser.
If you still have questions, welcome to the comments. Our moderators will try to give a detailed answer. Thank you for reading.