Set or clear default apps

If you have more than one app that does the same thing, you can pick which app to use by default.

Note: Some of these steps work only on Android 8.1 and up. Learn how to check your Android version.

Set default apps

Pick when asked

Sometimes, your device asks you which app to use. For example, your phone could ask which photo editing app to use to open a photo.

To set a default app when asked:

  1. Tap the app that you want to use.
  2. Pick how often you want to use that app for this action: Always or Just Once.

After you set a default app, your device won't ask you which app to use for that action anymore. To have your device ask again, you can clear the default. Learn how to clear defaults (below).

Pick at any time

You can change some default apps at any time. Available defaults vary by device and Android version.

To set a default app at any time:

  1. Open your device's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps & notifications and then Advanced and then Default apps.
  3. Tap the default that you want to change.
  4. Tap the app that you want to use by default.

Clear an app's default settings

If you set an app to do a certain thing by default, you can clear that setting.

  1. Open your device's Settings app Settings app.
  2. Tap Apps & notifications.
  3. Tap the app that you no longer want to be the default. If you don't see it, first tap See all apps or App info.
  4. Tap Open by default and then Clear defaults.

After clearing the default, when you take that action again, your device will ask you which app to use.

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Amy

Amy is an Android expert and author of this help page. Leave her feedback below about the page.

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