Owners of smartphones based on Android often encounter a situation where when they click on a video file in the messenger, file manager or browser, the wrong player is launched that is convenient for them. The system remembers the user's first action and subsequently automatically uses the previously selected application to play media. This may be a standard gallery player that does not support the desired subtitle formats or codecs.
To change this situation, you need to reset the current settings default applications and reselect your preferred player. The setup process does not require root access and takes only a few minutes, however, the menu interface may differ slightly depending on the version of the operating system and the shell of your device manufacturer.
In this article we will analyze in detail the algorithm of actions for popular versions of Android, consider the features of working with applications like MX Player and VLC, and we will also answer questions that arise when there is a app conflict. You can configure the device so that all videos open in exactly the player that provides the best picture and sound quality.
Why the system chooses the wrong player
The operating system Android is built on the principle of choosing an action by the user. When you first open a file of a certain type, for example, with the extension .mkv or .mp4, the system scans for installed applications that can process this request. If there are several such applications, a dialog box appears asking you to choose.
Often, users accidentally press the button Always instead of Only now, selecting the application that was first in the list or was installed last. After this, the system caches your choice file associations and stops asking for your opinion on subsequent launches. This is done to speed up the interface, but creates discomfort if the choice was wrong.
The situation may be aggravated by the fact that some smartphone manufacturers strictly tie the opening of media files to their standard utilities. In such cases, even installing a third-party video player does not automatically change the behavior of the system. Manual intervention in the settings is required to redirect data flows in the right direction.
⚠️ Attention: On some devices with MIUI or OneUI shells, settings may be hidden deep in the “Applications” menu, and not in the general system settings. Be prepared to look for the desired item through a search in the settings.
Resetting application settings to default
The first and most important step is to clear the current bindings. You need to force the system to “forget” the previous choice so that it again offers a list of available options. To do this, you need to find the section responsible for managing standard apps.
Go to the main settings of your smartphone and find the section Applications or Applications and notifications. Depending on the phone model, the path may look like Settings → Applications → Manage applications. Here you can see a complete list of all installed software on your device.
Find in the list the application that now opens automatically when you start a video. This could be “Gallery”, “Video” or a specific player that you previously selected by mistake. Click on it to get to the application information screen.
- 📱 Find the "Open as default" or "Launch as default" item in the application menu.
- 🗑️ Click the "Remove defaults" or "Reset defaults" button.
- ✅ Confirm the action in the pop-up window.
After performing this operation, any attempt to open the video file will again bring up the selection dialog box. Now you can correctly assign the desired one Video Player as the main one. If you have multiple players installed, the system will ask which one to use.
If you can't find a specific application in the list, use the search bar at the top of the application settings screen and enter the name of the player, for example, "VLC".
Select a new player when launching a file
Now that the old settings have been reset, it's time to set new rules. Find any video file on your device. This can be done through the file manager, gallery, or by downloading a test video from the Internet.
Click on the file. The “Open with” or “Select application” window will appear on the screen. This list will display all installed apps that support video playback. Select the player that you want to make the main one, for example MX Player or Just (Video) Player.
It is extremely important to pay attention to the buttons under the list of applications. Usually there are two of them: Only now and Always. To make the selected player the default application, you need to click exactly Always. If you click “Only now”, the system will remember this choice only for the current session, and the next time the question will be repeated.
⚠️ Attention: If after clicking "Always" the video still opens in another application, perhaps you have several file managers installed, and each of them has its own association settings.
☑️ Checking the default settings
Setting up associations within the player itself
Some advanced video players have their own internal settings that allow you to intercept the opening of files at the system level. This is especially true for such powerful tools as VLC for Android or Kodi. They can independently register themselves as handlers of certain types of content.
Go to the settings of the video player you want to use. Typically this section is located in the main menu under the gear or three dots icon. Look for a section called Decoding, General or Interface settings.
Inside the menu, find the option related to integration into the system. It may be called Integration with the system, File associations or Open files with this application. Activate the switch next to the desired formats or select the “All video files” option.
What to do if the desired format is not displayed in the list?
Some players do not register rare formats by default. Go to the decoder's advanced settings and make sure that hardware acceleration support is enabled for all types of codecs, including HEVC and VP9.
This method often works more reliably than the Android system settings, since the application itself sends a request to the system to register its capabilities. However, it is worth remembering that aggressive settings of all formats can lead to the player trying to open even damaged files that are better processed by specialized software.
Features for different versions of Android
The Android settings interface has changed significantly from version to version. What worked on Android 9 may look different on Android 13 or 14. Below is a table to help you navigate the settings paths for different versions of the operating system.
| Android version | Settings path | Features |
|---|---|---|
| Android 8 - 9 | Settings → Applications and notifications → Advanced → Default applications | Separate menu for selecting applications |
| Android 10 - 11 | Settings → Applications → Menu (three dots) → Default applications | Reset via specific application |
| Android 12 - 14 | Settings → Applications → Default applications → Reset preferences | There is a button to completely reset all associations at once |
| Android 15+ | Settings → System → Default applications | Strengthened control over file access permissions |
On modern versions of Android, starting with 11, Google has introduced a mechanism Scoped Storagethat limits application access to the file system. This means that even if you set the player to default, it may ask for additional permission to access media files when you first launch it.
Be sure to provide the requested permissions, otherwise the player simply will not see the files in the device’s memory and will not be able to play them, despite the correct association settings. In some cases, you need to manually allow access to the folder Download or the root of the internal storage.
⚠️ Attention: The shell interfaces of Samsung One UI, Xiaomi MIUI and other manufacturers may hide menu items. Use the settings search by entering the phrase "default" to quickly find the desired section.
On the latest versions of Android, it is easiest to use the "Reset application preferences" function in the general settings menu rather than searching for each application individually.
Solving problems with opening videos
Sometimes it happens that all the settings are correct, but the video still does not open in the selected application. This may be due to a version conflict, system cache corruption, or the characteristics of a particular file. In such cases, more in-depth diagnostics are required.
Try clearing the cache and data of the problematic application. Go to Settings → Applications, select your video player and click Storage. Then alternately press the Clear cache and Clear databuttons. This will return the player to the “as after installation” state, resetting its internal settings, but will not delete the application itself.
Also check if the application is disabled in the system settings. Some users accidentally freeze or disable system components that are responsible for processing file opening intents. Make sure that the application status isIntents) opening files. Make sure the application status is Enabled.
- 🔄 Try reinstalling the video player by downloading it from the official Google Play store.
- 📂 Check the file extension: the file may have a non-standard extension that the player does not recognize as a video.
- 🛡️ Disable your antivirus or memory cleaner during the scan; they may block the launch of third-party applications.
If the problem persists only with certain files, most likely it is not the default settings, but the lack of the necessary codecs. In this case, installing a universal player, such as one that has a built-in set of codecs, will solve the playback problem. Why does the video slow down after changing the player? The new player can use software decoding instead of hardware. Go to the settings of the new application and enable the "Hardware acceleration" or "HW Decoder" option. VLC, which has a built-in set of codecs, will solve the playback problem.
Why does the video slow down after changing the player?
The new player can use software decoding instead of hardware. Go to the settings of the new application and enable the "Hardware acceleration" or "HW Decoder" option.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to make different video formats open in different players?
It is difficult to do this using standard Android tools, since the system assigns one application to a group of file types (for example, all videos). However, some file managers allow you to create your own opening rules. In other cases, you will have to select “Only now” every time or use automation through applications like Tasker.
What to do if the "Always" button is inactive or has disappeared?
This can happen if only one application is installed on the system that can open this type of file. Install a second video player to give the system a choice. Also, the button may disappear in power saving mode or on some custom firmware.
Does changing the default video player affect the operation of online video in the browser?
No, the default video player is responsible only for local files stored in the phone's memory. Videos on sites (YouTube, Vimeo, etc.) are played directly inside the browser or through official service applications using their own playback engines.
How can I return the standard player back if I don’t like the new one?
You need to repeat the reset procedure. Go to the application settings, find the new player that you set as the main one, and click “Remove default settings”. After that, the next time you open a video, select the standard gallery and click “Always.”
Why do player settings get lost after updating Android?
Major system updates often reset application permissions and file associations for security and stability reasons. This is normal system behavior. After a major update, it is recommended to check the default application settings and, if necessary, reassign them.