Tip of the Week - Clearing App Defaults

Seeing as our #AppColiseum them this past week was about Launchers I figured I'd show this little tidbit about how to 'select' your default app, and then clear it if you didn't like it any more.

First a little background - what is an 'app default'?  Think of it like 'file type association' (if that means anything to you).  Your PC you have specific apps/programs designed to 'handle' specific file types.  Usually double clicking your .doc files load up MS Word, or double clicking on an MP3 file brings up a media player.


App Defaults on Android is similar.  Tap home, and that's like a trigger for the launcher.  If you have more than one installed, it'll ask you which to use.  There you can choose one of the ones installed and tell it to 'always' use it down the road.  But what if you made a mistake and want the old one back?  Well, you'll have to 'clear defaults' so that it'll ask again the next time.

(sure, you could just uninstall the app to get rid of it, but let's just assume you want to keep both)



So, just for demonstration sake, I install another launcher (this one's Apex... it's what I recommended for the #appcoliseum)


Once, installed, any time you hit the 'home' button, it'll ask you which launcher to use now:  Apex or Stock?


If you pick one for 'just once' (double tapping will auto select 'just once'), it'll ask you again next time.  Clicking "Always" will make sure it always uses that app for that command.

To clear that choice, just go into menu / apps and find that app


Then just click on 'clear defaults'.


Then you'll be presented with the option again next time.


This also works for any 'command' that has an associated app, like loading up jpgs from emails.  Here it asks which app to you use.


That's if I wanted Gallery to 'always' open jpgs.  If I had chosen PS Touch by accident, just go and clear it's defaults to bring back the dialogue.

Tip:  A fast way to bring up an apps default options is to go into the app drawer, find the app and then long press and bring it to 'app info'. (I demonstrate this in the video).



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