How To Set Default Apps To Open Files On Android

When using a smartphone, file management is a must-do chore for everyone. It may be a PDF file downloaded from a website or an app, or it could be a spreadsheet sent to you by email. When there are multiple apps that may open the same type of file, it is necessary to set Android phones' default file-opening applications. This will allow you to open the file with your favourite application without having to search for it each time. This piece will show you exactly how easy it is to accomplish that goal.

Default File Opening Behavior In Android

Open a PDF file for the first time on your phone, for example. A list of supported apps installed on your phone, such as "Office," "One Drive," and so on, will be displayed by Android in this case. Choosing an app, such as "Office," will open the document in the Office app for Android. Only the current session of "Office" on your phone will allow you to open PDF files. Previously, whenever you opened a PDF file for the first time in a while, you would be asked to select an application to open it.

Repetitive file type selection will be time-consuming and annoying. You can always use the PDF reader software on your phone to open PDF files.

Set Default Apps In Android

With Android 12, you may customize your phone's browser, caller ID, call redirection, spam filtering, and more. On a Windows or Mac computer, you can set default apps for any file type, but not for the categories listed above. Android's default apps can be set by following the steps.

• Open the Android settings menu and select "Apps > Default apps".
• You'll see a list of categories for which the default app can be selected.
• Click on category, for example, select "Browser app" and then follow the on-screen instructions to configure your default browser.

Default App Categories

1. Home App

You can choose a default app launcher by choosing "Home app." A launcher app replaces the default home screen on your Android device and provides additional customization options. If you want to customize the look of your phone, you may change the default affiliation here to one of your preferred launcher apps.

2. Browser App

The list of installed browsers on your Android device can be found by pressing this button. Chrome and Firefox are the two browsers that are currently being used in this instance. It is possible to designate a single web browser as the default browser for all future web surfing. As a reminder, you can choose to open certain links directly in a different application, as described at the end of this section.

3. Digital Assistant App

You can set Google, Firefox, or none as the default digital assistant app. Google Assist is a digital assistant program that can read text from your screen, take screenshots, and follow voice commands.

4. Phone App

It is possible to set the default Android phone app for making and receiving phone calls with this option. You'll see a list of your installed calling apps here, and you can pick the one you want to use as your default. In this case, just the system's default phone app will be shown.

5. SMS App

Similar to the phone app, you may choose the SMS app as the default here, too. Your phone number will be used to send and receive multimedia messages, including text messages, photos, and videos.

6. Call Redirecting App

Calls can be forwarded from the default call-forwarding program to another phone number. A drop-down menu allows you to select "None" or "Default."

7. Caller ID & Spam App

A default app can be chosen to identify incoming calls and block spam, robocalls, and other unwanted numbers. When using a caller ID application, you may find this beneficial.