One of many lesser-appreciated options of Google’s Android cell working system is the power to modify your default apps with out fuss. Your default net browser, telephone app, caller ID and spam app, digital assistant app, residence app, and Brief Message Service (SMS) texting app are all simply interchangable with third-party alternate options.
There are lots of, many causes to be vital of Google, however I am going to give credit score the place credit score is due: the tech big has performed a fairly good job of creating Android a versatile OS, messaging apps included. For those who’re questioning how you can make the swap to a third-party textual content messaging app, otherwise you merely need to check out one thing that is not Google Messages, then all it will take is a few purposeful display screen faucets.
Associated
These 6 third-party Android messaging apps deliver me again to the glory days of SMS texting
Google Messages is not the one Android texting app on the town — listed here are some wonderful third-party alternate options.
swap out your default SMS texting app on Android
The complete course of solely takes a number of moments to finish
As a way to swap from one Android texting app to another one, comply with these steps:
- Obtain a third-party textual content messaging app from the Google Play Retailer, when you do not have already got one put in in your Android telephone.
- Find this third-party texting app from inside your telephone’s app drawer, and faucet on its icon to launch the software program.
- Instantly, you will be greeter with a splash display screen. You will need to faucet on the Set default SMS app button.
- From the checklist introduced, faucet on the textual content messaging app of your alternative.
- Faucet on Set as default.
Every messaging app has its personal distinctive ‘set as default messaging app’ splash display screen, however in each case, there’s solely ever a single button you must fear about tapping.
And similar to that, whichever texting app you’ve got chosen will begin working as your new default — it will routinely replace and sync up all of your current textual content message threads, with no extra enter required. The method to return to your beforehand chosen texting app is an identical, however merely in reverse.
For those who’re on the lookout for some wonderful third-party messaging app suggestions, Pocket-lint has a devoted article on the subject. Briefly, some well-liked choices embrace:
Associated
Apple’s rollout of RCS in iOS 18 has not been successful
The introduction of RCS in Apple’s newest replace has not unified messaging between Android and iOS in the way in which many had been anticipating.
Google is the undisputed chief relating to trendy Android textual content messaging
That being mentioned, third-party SMS apps nonetheless have their place out there
Lately, we have seen Google push aggressively to make its personal Messages app the de facto texting expertise on Android. The tech big has emphasised its personal implementation of the Wealthy Communication Companies (RCS) protocol, and has brokered offers with giants like Samsung to incorporate the service on new telephones by default.
In actual fact, because it at the moment stands, the Android Open Supply Challenge (AOSP) or ‘vanilla’ model of Android does not even have an actively maintained app for messaging family and friends. As an alternative, it is as much as smartphone OEMs and third-party builders to fill the Google-sized void within the room.
I can envision an eventual RCS-powered renaissance within the Android texting app scene.
Fortunately, whereas the present collection of various SMS apps is not huge, the out there choices are nonetheless being frequently up to date. If the newer RCS texting customary continues to realize business prominence — and it is a secure wager that it will achieve this — then I can envision an eventual RCS-powered renaissance within the Android texting app scene.
After all, as a prerequisite, this may require Google to open up its distinctive taste of the RCS protocol to third-parties within the type of a developer API. In the interim, nearly all of texting apps on Android fall into one in every of two camps: people who depend on the now-ancient SMS customary, and people funded by deep pockets that may afford to construct proprietary messaging applied sciences à la WhatsApp, Discord, and others.
Associated
Apple takes Messages to the subsequent degree with scheduled ship and extra enjoyable options
It is not AI-centric, however these new iOS 18 iMessage options boast extra environment friendly, personality-filled communication.
