How to set up Google Hangouts as default text message app

Do you want to change the default text message app on your smartphone because its appearance is not that appealing, or maybe because it does not offer as many features as you would like it to have? Here is a solution to that problem.

You can change the default text message app to set up Google Hangouts as the default text message app. Google Hangouts is available on both the Android Play Store and Apple App Store. Both Android and iOS users can use the Google Hangouts app. With Google Hangouts, you can send text messages, do voice calls or video calls, and connect with up to 150 people in a group chat.

For new users

If you have not used the Google Hangouts app before or you do not have it installed on your device, then you will need to follow these steps:

1. If you do not have the Google Hangouts app, you will first have to download and install it from the Google Play Store if you use an Android device or the Apple App Store if you use an iOS device.
2. To install, open the Play Store or App Store, depending on which OS (Android or iOS respectively) you use. Now, in the search bar, type Hangouts, tap on the Google Hangouts app, and install next to it. Wait for the app to install on your device.
3. After installing the app, you will need to sign in using your Google account, which you want to use for the Google Hangouts app.
4. Once you’ve signed in, the app asks if you want to set Google Hangouts as the default text message app. You should accept this prompt to set the app as the default text message app. However, if you somehow missed this prompt, you can follow the steps under the next subheading titled ‘for old users’.

For old users

For those users who already have the Google Hangouts app installed on their device, following these steps will make the Google Hangouts app the default SMS app:

1. Open the Google Hangouts app.
2. In the top-left area of the app, go to the menu.
3. From the menu, go to the settings option.
4. Here, tap on the “SMS” option.
5. You should now see the “SMS enabled” option here. What you need to do is tap on that option.
6. A dialog box will appear as you tap on the ‘SMS enabled’ option. You must tap on the ‘ok’ option in this dialog box.
7. A new dialog box will open now, on which you should tap the ‘yes’ option.
8. Once you are done with these steps, Google Hangouts should be set up as the default text message app on your device.

Want to undo this?

If you want to undo making Google Hangouts the default messaging app, then you can do that too. Just follow these steps:

1. First, go to the menu in the top-left area of the Google Hangouts app.
2. From the menu, tap on the Settings option.
3. From here, choose the ‘SMS’ option.
4. A new options menu will open where you need to tap on the ‘SMS enabled’ option.
5. A list of SMS apps will be shown. You should select an SMS app other than the Google Hangouts app from this list.
6. Once you are done with these steps, the default SMS app will be changed from Google Hangouts to your chosen SMS app.