How to Change Default Apps on Your Android Tablet

Android lets you choose which apps handle common actions like opening links, playing music, and viewing photos. Changing default apps ensures your preferred browser opens web links, your chosen email app handles mailto links, and your favorite media player handles audio and video files.

Accessing Default App Settings

Go to Settings, then Apps, then Default Apps (or Choose Default Apps on some tablets). This screen lists the major default app categories with your current selections.

Changing the Default Browser

Tap the Browser App option and select your preferred browser from the list. Chrome is the default on most tablets, but you can switch to Firefox, Brave, Samsung Internet, Edge, or any installed browser. After changing, all web links from other apps open in your chosen browser instead of Chrome.

Changing the Default Launcher

Tap the Home App option to switch your home screen launcher. If you have installed Nova Launcher, Microsoft Launcher, or another alternative, it appears here. The launcher controls your home screen layout, app drawer, and widgets. Changing the launcher does not affect your apps or data.

Changing the Default Phone and SMS App

If your tablet has cellular capability, the Phone App and SMS App options let you choose alternatives for calling and text messaging. Google Phone and Google Messages are common defaults, but alternatives like Samsung Phone and Samsung Messages or third-party options are available.

Changing the Digital Assistant

Tap Digital Assistant App to choose between Google Assistant, Samsung Bixby, or another assistant. This controls which assistant responds to voice commands and the long-press home gesture.

Setting Defaults for Specific Actions

Beyond the main categories, Android lets you set defaults for specific actions. When you tap a link or file and multiple apps can handle it, Android shows a chooser dialog. Select your preferred app and tap Always to set it as the default for that type of content.

Clearing a Default

If you set a default accidentally, go to Settings, Apps, find the app that was set as default, and tap Clear Defaults or Open by Default. This removes the default association and Android will ask again next time.

Opening Links in Apps

Android supports opening web links directly in their associated apps. For example, tapping a YouTube link can open the YouTube app instead of a browser. Go to Settings, Apps, find the app, and tap Open by Default or Supported Links. Enable the option to open supported links in the app.

To disable this behavior for a specific app, toggle off the Open Supported Links setting. Links will then open in your default browser instead.

File Type Associations

Android handles file types by querying which installed apps can open a particular file format. When you tap a PDF, Android checks for PDF-capable apps. If multiple apps qualify, you see a chooser. Select your preferred app and tap Always.

Common file type defaults to consider:

PDF files — Adobe Acrobat Reader, Google Drive PDF viewer, or Xodo
Music files — Your preferred music player
Video files — VLC, MX Player, or the default video player
Image files — Google Photos, Samsung Gallery, or a third-party gallery

Samsung-Specific Default App Options

Samsung tablets include additional default app settings in their One UI interface. Samsung apps often set themselves as defaults during setup. You can change these in the same Settings, Apps, Default Apps location. Samsung also provides default app settings within individual Samsung app settings for more granular control.

Final Thoughts

Setting your preferred default apps takes a few minutes but improves your daily experience significantly. Every link, file, and action routes to the app you actually want to use instead of a default you did not choose. Review default app settings after installing new apps that might serve you better than current defaults.