How to change “Open with” on Android: 5 methods + solving errors

When you try to open a file on Android, the system automatically launches it in the wrong application - or does not show the choice at all? The problem most often occurs with non-standard formats (for example .mkv, .flac or working documents), when the OS “forgets” the previously selected default app or blocks alternatives due to security settings. Sometimes Android updates that reset file associations or errors in the application cache are to blame - for example, after a crash, the gadget stops offering a menu "Open with", although the desired app is installed.

In this article we will look at all possible scenarios: from the basic change of the default application until hidden options are restored in the Open With menu. We’ll also find out why sometimes Android ignores your settings and stubbornly opens files in the browser instead of the player. Spoiler: not only you, but also application developers are to blame.

The material is relevant for all versions of Android - from Android 8.0 Oreo to Android 15 (at the time of writing). If you have a device with custom firmware (for example MIUI, One UI or ColorOS), some menu items may have different names - we will warn you about this separately.

1. How to change the default application for a file

The most obvious way is to change the app right when the file is opened. But there are nuances here that few people know about.

When you first open a file of a certain type (for example, .pdf or .mp3), Android asks: "Open with..." and offers a list of applications. If the app you need is not in this list, click More (or Others applications) - the system will show all compatible utilities, including those that are not installed by default.

To fix selection forever, check the box next to Always or Set as default. But be careful: after this, Android will stop asking which application to use, and will automatically open files in the selected app.

• 📁 For documents: select Google Docs, Microsoft Office or WPS Office —depending on the format (.docx, .xlsx, .ppt).
• 🎵 For music: standard Google Play Music (or YouTube Music on new devices) often loses VLC or Poweramp on functionality.
• 📷 For images: Google Photos convenient for cloud storage, but QuickPic or Gallery from the manufacturer can work faster.

⚠️ Attention: If you selected the default application, but then deleted it, Android may “forget” the settings. In this case, the next time you open the file, the system will prompt you to select the app again.

2 Where to find the “Open with” settings in the system. data-i="82">If you have already assigned the default application and want to change it without waiting for the next time you open the file, do this through the system settings. The path may differ slightly depending on the version of Android and the shell, but the general logic is the same:

If you have already pinned the default application and want to change it without waiting for the next time you open the file, do this through system settings. The path may differ slightly depending on the Android version and shell, but the general logic is the same:

Open Settings → Applications (or Settings → Applications and notifications on some devices Next:

1. Tap on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Default applications (or Reset application settings).
2. Scroll down to the section Opening supported links or Opening settings.
3. Select a file type (for example Audio files, Video files) and specify the new application.

On some devices (for example, Samsung or Xiaomi) this path may look like so: Settings → Applications → Application management → Default settings. If you don’t find the item you need, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen).

Manufacturer	Path to the “Open with” settings	Features
Google Pixel	Settings → Applications → Default applications	The “cleanest” interface, without unnecessary items.
Samsung	Settings → Applications → Default selection	You may need to reset settings for some file types.
Xiaomi/Redmi	Settings → Applications → Manage applications → Default settings	Sometimes a reboot is required after changing the application.
Huawei/Honor	Settings → Applications → Default applications	On new devices without Google services, list applications may be limited.

3. How to reset the "Open with" settings to factory settings

If Android persistently ignores your settings or you want to return everything to its original state, perform a reset. This is useful when:

• 🔄 The default application is deleted and the system does not offer an alternative.
• 🚫 Files of a certain type stopped opening at all.
• ❓ The necessary apps disappeared from the “Open with” menu.

To reset:

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Default applications.
2. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select Reset application settings (or Reset default settings).
3. Confirm the action. After that, the next time When opening the file, Android will again ask which application to use.

⚠️ Attention: The reset affects all types filesnot just the selected one. If you have configured convenient default applications for other formats, you will also have to configure them again.

Make sure that the necessary applications are installed

Take screenshots of the current settings (if you want to restore them later)

Close all open files and applications

Connect the device to charging (in case of long procedures)-->

4. Why Android does not show the desired application in the "Open with" list

Sometimes there is no app in the menu that should definitely support this file format. The reasons may be different:

1. The application is not declared as a handler for this type of file. Developers must explicitly indicate in the application manifest (AndroidManifest.xml), what extensions it supports. If they do not do this, the system will not offer the app in the list.

2. data-i="147">🔄 Reboot the device. After installing a new application, Android does not always immediately update the list of available handlers.

• 🔄 Reboot your device.
• 🧹 Clear the application cache Settings → Applications → Find application → Memory → Clear cache.
• 📥 Reinstall the problematic one application.

3. data-i="155">How to check what formats an application supports? For example, a video in the format .mkv may not open in a standard player, although .mp4 is supported. The solution is to rename the file or install a universal player like VLC.

How can I check which formats an application supports?

Open the application page on Google Play → scroll to the “Additional information” section → look at the “Supported formats” item (if specified). For an accurate check, you can use applications like File Manager+, which show the compatibility of files with installed apps.

5. Solving problems: “Open with” does not work or has disappeared

If the “Open with” menu does not appear at all or behaves incorrectly, try these methods:

Problem 1: When you tap on a file, nothing happens. Solution:

• Check if the file system is broken (for example, after incorrectly removing the SD card).
• Install an alternative file manager (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) and try opening the file through it.

Problem 2: The "Open with" menu appears, but is empty. Solution:

• Reset application settings (see section 3).
• Check whether permissions for the file manager are disabled in Settings → Applications → Permissions.

Problem 3: Android stubbornly opens files in the browser. Solution: This is a typical problem for files with extensions that the system associates with web content (for example .svg, .json). Install a specialized application (for example SVG Viewer for vector graphics) and manually set it as the default.

6. Alternative methods: ADB and third-party utilities

For For advanced users who want complete control over file associations, there are more flexible methods.

Method 1: Using ADB

Using commands adb you can manually assign handlers for any MIME types, for example, to make VLC the default application for. video:

adb shell cmd package set-home-activity org.videolan.vlc/org.videolan.vlc.gui.video.VideoPlayerActivity
adb shell cmd package add-preferred-activity org.videolan.vlc org.videolan.vlc.gui.video.VideoPlayerActivity

⚠️ This method requires that developer mode is enabled and connected to a PC. Errors in commands can lead to system failures.

Method 2: Applications for managing associations

Utilities like Default App Manager or Open With allow you to flexibly configure which application opens which type of file, without having to reset all settings. They are useful if:

• 🔧 You need to assign different applications to subtypes of the same format (for example, .jpg in one app, and .png —to another).
• 📊 You want to see a complete list of all associations in one place.

⚠️ Attention: Some manufacturers (for example, Huawei or Xiaomi) block changes to system settings via ADB on their devices. In this case, only this will help. root access or third-party utilities.

7. Features for different versions of Android

The interface and logic of the “Open with” function changed with the release of new versions of Android:

Version. Android	Changes in “Open with”	Typical problems
Android 7.0 Nougat and below	The menu appeared every time a file was opened if the default application was not selected.	There is no centralized management of associations in the settings.
Android 8.0–9.0 Oreo/Pie	A "Default Applications" section has appeared in the settings, but without detail by file type.	It is difficult to reset settings for a specific format.
Android 10–12	Added the ability to reset settings for individual file types (for example, only for music).	Some manufacturers (for example, Samsung) hide these options deep in the menu.
Android 13 and later	Clearer separation by MIME types, improved application selection interface.	Restrictions on changing system associations without ADB.

On Android 14 and later, Google has tightened the rules for developers: apps must now explicitly request the right to be the default handler for specific file types. This means that some apps may disappear from the "Open With" list if they have not been updated. for a long time.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to assign different applications to the same file type depending on the folder?

No, Android does not support such separation at the system level. However, some file managers (for example, Solid Explorer) allow you to create rules for opening files from certain folders in selected apps.

Why did all the “Open with” settings reset after updating Android?

This is standard behavior for major ones. OS updates (for example, from Android 12 to 13). The system resets file associations to avoid conflicts with new rules for processing MIME types. To avoid problems, before updating, take screenshots of the current settings or use applications like Default App Manager to export configurations.

How to open a file for which there is no suitable application?

There are several options:

1. Install a universal application (for example, VLC for multimedia or FX File Explorer for viewing text in binary files).
2. Rename the file extension (for example, .txt instead .log), if you are confident in its contents.
3. Use online services (for example, Google Docs for rare document formats).

Is it possible to disable the “Open with” menu completely so that files are always opened in one application?

Yes, for this you need to set the default application (check the box Always when opening it for the first time). However, this does not disable the menu completely - it will appear for new file types. You can completely remove the dialog only through ADB or root access, but this is not recommended, as it may lead to problems with opening files.

Why do some applications (for example, Telegram) ignore the “Open with” settings?

Some apps (messengers, social networks) have built-in handlers for certain types of files and force them to open them in their interface. For example, Telegram can automatically play. video in your player, even if you set VLC as default. Solution:

• Open the file through the file manager, and not from the messenger interface.
• In the application settings (for example, Telegram → Settings → Data and memory) disable the option Open media in the built-in player.