Owners of modern smartphones are often faced with a situation where a pre-installed application for playing media files does not meet their needs. Standard player It may be too simple, not support rare formats, or have an inconvenient interface. This causes a natural desire to replace it with a more functional solution from Google Play.
Fortunately, the operating system Android provides users with ample opportunities for customization. You can easily designate another application as the main one for opening audio and video files. However, this process is not always intuitive, especially if the system has already “remembered” your previous choice.
In this material we will look in detail at all the ways to replace a media player. We will look at both standard system setup tools and specific methods for different versions Androidso that you can enjoy content in your favorite application without unnecessary clicks.
Why the system opens files in an old application
When you first launch a media file on a new device, the system prompts you to select an application. If you accidentally clicked the “Always” button instead of “Only Now”, Android remembers this choice. In the future, all files of the corresponding type will be automatically opened in this app, ignoring the presence of other installed players.
This is the mechanism of operation intents (intentions) in the operating system. It is designed to speed up the user's work, eliminating constant questions with each click. But it is this feature that becomes an obstacle when you want to change the main tool for watching movies or listening to music.
⚠️ Attention: Simply deleting the old application is not always enough. In some firmware, the system player is part of the shell and cannot be removed without root access, so it is necessary to reset the settings to default.
To return the ability to select, you need to force clear file associations. This action is safe and does not delete your personal data, music or videos. It only resets the logical connection between the file type and a specific app.
If you don’t remember which application you selected earlier, try launching the video file through the file manager - the system will show the icon of the current player before opening.
Resetting application settings to default in the menu
The most reliable way to change the situation is to go into the system settings and manually clear the settings of a specific one applications. The algorithm of actions may differ slightly depending on the smartphone manufacturer (Samsung, Xiaomi, Pixel), but the general logic remains the same for the entire ecosystem.
You need to find the application management section. It is usually located in the general settings of the phone. Find in the list the application that is now opening automatically (for example, “Video”, “Music” or the name of a third-party player that you want to remove).
After entering the application card, scroll the list to the item “Open by default” or “Launch by default”. This is where information is stored about what actions are assigned to this app. Click on the “Reset settings” or “Delete default settings” button.
☑️ Reset algorithm
After completing this operation, the next time you launch any media file, the system will again ask you how to open this file. Now you can select a new player and click “Always”, assigning priority to it.
Selecting a new media player from the store
Before assigning a new application as your main one, you should make sure that it really suits you. The store Google Play presents a huge number of solutions, each of which has its own interface features and codec support.
When choosing, you should pay attention to format support. If you watch high-definition movies with surround sound, you'll need a powerful decoding engine. Lightweight players may not be able to cope with heavy files MKV or HEVC.
- 🎬 VLC for Android —a universal processor that supports almost all existing video and audio formats without the need to install additional codecs.
- 🎵 MX Player —a popular solution with excellent hardware decoding and convenient gestures for controlling brightness and volume directly on the screen.
- 🎧 Poweramp —the best choice for audiophiles, offering an advanced equalizer and support for hi-res_audio, but is a paid application.
- 📺 Kodi —a powerful media center for those who want to organize a large library of films with covers and descriptions.
⚠️ Attention: App store interfaces and menu item names may change after updates systems. If you do not find an exact match of the item name, look for a section with a similar meaning associated with “Applications” or “apps.”
Installing a new player takes only a couple of minutes. After downloading and installing, do not rush to immediately assign it as the main one. Launch the application manually, check its operation, customize the interface for yourself and make sure that it displays files correctly on your device.
Manually setting up file associations
In some versions Android, especially in pure assemblies or specific shells, it is possible to fine-tune file types. You can specify that music should open in one player, and video in another.
To do this, after resetting the settings (described in the second section), a dialog box will appear when you first launch the file. Take a close look at the list of applications. There are often tabs or switches that allow you to select an action specifically for that type of extension.
If the system simply offers a list of icons, make sure you select the correct application. Sometimes the same player appears in the list twice: as “Player” and as “Video Player”. Selecting a specific icon can capture different usage scenarios.
| File type | Extension | Recommended application | Priority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Audio | .mp3, .flac | Poweramp / Musicolet | High |
| Video | .mkv, .mp4 | VLC / MX Player | High |
| Streaming video | .m3u8 | VLC / Just (Video) Player | Medium |
| Subtitles | .srt, .ass | MX Player | Low |
This approach allows you to create an ideal media environment. For example, for podcasts you can use specialized applications with a playback acceleration function, and for movies - players with 3D or HDR support.
What to do if the desired player does not appear in the list?
If, after resetting the settings, your new application does not appear in the selection list, check in its settings (within the application itself) whether the “Register file types” option is enabled. Sometimes new players require manual confirmation of rights to read media on the first launch.
Problems with system players from manufacturers
Chinese smartphone manufacturers, such as Xiaomi, Oppo or Vivooften integrate their proprietary players deep into the system. These applications can behave aggressively, intercepting file launches even after a factory reset.
In such cases, a standard reset may not be enough. You may need to disable a system application if your firmware allows it. Go to the application settings, find the system player (often called “Music” or “Video” with a brand logo) and click the “Disable” button.
Disconnection does not remove the application completely, but hides it from the list of available apps and prevents the system from using it to open files by default. after this operation, the system will be forced to offer you other installed options.
⚠️ Attention: Do not disable system components if you are not sure of their purpose. Disabling critical services may result in an unstable interface or the loss of the ability to play sound on the system.
If the Disable button is grayed out, try clearing the cache and data of this application before resetting the settings to default. The combination of these actions often helps to “knock down” the persistence of system software.
Disabling the manufacturer’s built-in player is the most effective way to make Android forget about it and switch to a third-party solution.
Using file managers to launch
Sometimes the problem lies not in the system settings, but in how you run the files. If you open music or video directly from the gallery or standard Explorer, they may use their built-in viewers.
Try using an advanced file manager, for example Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer. In the settings of these apps, you can often specify which application to use to preview and open different types of files.
This gives you control at the file system level. You can set up a profile for videos where it will be hardcoded MX Player, and a profile for audio with another player. This bypasses system restrictions and works more stable.
FM settings → File associations → Video → Select application → AlwaysThis method is especially useful if you have many players installed on your device and you want to flexibly manage them depending on the current task, without changing the global settings of the phone.
Frequently asked questions
Is it possible to completely remove a standard Samsung or Xiaomi player?
Without obtaining root access it is impossible to completely remove system applications. However, they can be “frozen” or disabled through the settings, which will actually remove them from the list of available apps and prevent them from starting automatically.
Why, after resetting the settings, does the phone select the old player again?
This can happen if you clicked “Only now” instead of “Always” when selecting new application, or if the system player has a higher priority in the application manifest. Try disabling the old player before setting it up again.
Does changing the player affect the sound quality?
Yes, different players use different decoding engines. Specialized audio players (like Poweramp) often bypass standard Android limitations (audiomixer), providing cleaner sound and a better equalizer.
How to return all file opening settings to factory settings?
In the “Applications” section in Android settings there is often an item “Reset application preferences” (three dots in the corner of the menu). This function resets default settings for all apps at once, not just for players.
Is it safe to use third-party players from unverified sources?
Downloading APK files from third-party sites carries the risk of malware infection. Always try to download applications from the official store Google Play or trusted repositories such as F-Droid.