If you own an Android phone, one of the best things is being able to change your default apps. If you made a default choice in the past and want to change it, don’t worry. Below are the steps for resetting app preferences on stock Android devices, as well as Samsung smartphones.
Stock Android
If you are using a phone running stock Android (e.g., Google Pixel 5, Xiaomi Mi A3, Motorola One Vision), follow these steps to reset your app preferences.
Resetting preferences for a single app
- Search for Settings in the App Drawer.
- Once there, select Apps and Notifications > See All Apps and choose the app you want to reset.
- Once selected, go to Advanced then tap Open By Default.
- Tap Clear Defaults.
Reset all app preferences at once
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Tap the More menu in the upper-right corner.
- Select Reset App Preferences.
- Read through the warning. Then, tap Reset Apps to confirm your decision.
Samsung smartphones
Follow these steps to reset your app preferences if you have a Samsung phone.
Resetting preferences for a single app
- Go to Settings > Apps and tap the three dots in the top right corner.
- From the pop-up menu, tap Default Apps.
- Choose the app you want to reset.
- Select the alternative app you’d like to use.
Reset all app preferences at once
- Go to Settings > Apps.
- Tap the three dots in the upper-right corner.
- Select Reset App Preferences.
- Read through the warning. This usually includes disabled apps, notification restrictions, background data restrictions, permission restrictions, and default apps.
- Tap Reset Apps to confirm your decision.
When you use these steps to make changes, you’ll restore everything to defaults, so any previously disabled apps will need to be manually disabled when you complete the process.
