On most Android phones, go to Settings > Apps > Default apps > SMS app, then choose the messaging app you want. If your phone uses different menu labels, search Settings for “SMS app,” or open the app and accept its prompt to become the default.
What changes when you switch the default SMS app?
Android routes new text messages through the selected default app. Google says that when you make Google Messages the default, you can review your text-message history there as well. During initial setup, importing message history and attachments may briefly increase battery use. Google Messages setup and history details.
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SMS data is sensitive. Google notes that messages are stored in the device’s SMS database and that other apps may be able to access them. Before choosing an app, review its privacy policy and the permissions it requests.
Choose from the apps available on your phone
The SMS app list in Android’s default-app settings is the practical shortlist: an app that does not appear may not be installed or eligible to handle SMS on that phone. Compare the listed apps against what you actually need, and check each app’s own feature descriptions and privacy information.
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- Features: Check that the app supports the messaging functions you use. RCS, backups, encryption, and cross-device features can differ by app and carrier; they should not be assumed to work identically.
- Privacy: Consider the app’s privacy policy and why it requests each permission. Android treats SMS access as sensitive.
- Availability: Choose an app shown in the system’s SMS-app selector.
- Device management: On a work-managed phone, an administrator may set or restrict default apps.
Android’s guidance for developers explains that Play-distributed apps requesting certain SMS-related sensitive permissions generally need to be the default handler for the relevant function, unless an exception applies. Eligible default handlers are expected to provide SMS functionality, explain their core purpose, provide a privacy policy, request appropriate permissions, and ask to become default before requesting associated sensitive permissions such as READ_SMS. This policy context can help explain a prompt, but it does not establish that every app requesting default status is trustworthy. Android guidance on permissions used only in default handlers.
Change the default in Android Settings
- Open Settings.
- Tap Apps, then Default apps.
- Tap SMS app.
- Select the messaging app you want to use.
Google documents this route for Android’s default-app settings. Menu names and placement can vary by phone maker. Google Messages notification and settings help.
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Set Google Messages as the default from the app
Open Google Messages and follow its prompt to make it the default SMS app. Google also documents changing the default through device Settings. Its setup guidance says some instructions apply only to Android 6.0 and newer. Get started with Google Messages.
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If “SMS app” is missing or the choice is locked
- Look in another menu or search Settings: Search for “SMS app,” or check Settings > Apps > Default apps. Manufacturers can arrange settings differently.
- Check whether the app is available to select: The app needs to appear in the SMS-app list to be chosen there.
- Check for device management: A work administrator may control default settings. Google’s Android Management API documents policy-controlled defaults, with support varying by Android release and management mode. Its published matrix lists the
DEFAULT_SMSpolicy for company-owned devices on Android 16 and above; this is an enterprise-management provision, not the ordinary consumer setting. Google Android Management API: default application settings and DefaultApplicationType version and policy details.
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