Since the new Samsung Galaxy Note 5 and Galaxy S6 Edge+ have been on sale in the United States for a few weeks now, users are starting to ask a lot of questions about these impressively large 5.7-inch smartphones. This quick guide will explain how to change or replace the stock text messaging app on Galaxy Note 5 for something better, more useful and more customizable.
The Samsung Note 5 has a lot to offer, with a stunningly bright and colorful 5.7-inch 2k resolution AMOLED display, powerful 8-core processors and 4GB of RAM. It’s enough to do just about anything, including running two apps on the screen at the same time. But today, we’re going to show users how to do something as simple as replacing the “Messages” app with different text.
Like most manufacturers, Samsung has its own text messaging app specifically for the Galaxy Note 5. This is called “Messages” and is a good practice. It even looks and works like stock Android 5.1 Lollipop and uses Google’s material design interface. But most stock apps aren’t very attractive, don’t have many features, and aren’t very customizable. Instead, download one of the many 3rd party text apps we’ll detail below.
Samsung’s stock “Messages” app has some backup options and a few quick controls to swipe and call people, but that’s it. It’s still very limited compared to the LG G4 app or the apps in the Google Play Store. On Android, users can quickly replace key components like the text app, camera, calendar, gallery, and more with alternatives, and below are a few of our favorite text apps.
When you replace your stock app with something from game store Themes or backgrounds can be customized with customized font, change the look of message bubbles or colors, and much more. It all depends on which app the user decides to try and the link above details a few good options, then the guide below will help you replace the messaging app with something a little more useful.
Instructions
There is now a special option in settings that turns one text app on and off the other so users won’t get double notifications from both the stock app and the newly installed option. It doesn’t allow both to be set as “default” at the same time, like older Android smartphones from 2013. With the Note 5 you can download a new app and possibly have the user set it to default automatically or follow the steps below.
First you’ll want to go to the Google Play Store and download one of the many different third-party text apps. Textra is my favourite, GoSMS or Chomp is pretty fancy and a few people have linked our list above. Download one and you are ready. Most will change the default app settings for you. text on first launch there will be a big “Set as Default” button near the bottom. If not, here’s how to do it yourself.
As you can see above, just go to settings and under the “” column go to Apps. Tap > Default Apps > and tap “Messages” to change the default text messaging app. If none are installed, only Samsung’s stock option will be displayed alongside Google Hangouts. Tap which app you want to use (we chose text) and you’re done.
This now sets that app as the only app to send, receive and notify incoming text messages to the Galaxy Note 5. If you chose something like Textra go in and change the font, style, colors, balloon colors and even the notification icon for each person. Thus, owners can set certain notification icon colors to special friends, family or other significant people.
There are countless excellent text messaging apps available on the Google Play Store, and a few of our favorites are linked above. Give them a try and see what works best for you. In the meantime, check out the list of 10 awesome Galaxy Note 5 accessories in the slideshow below.
