This guide quickly explains how to replace the LG G5 text message app for those using LG’s latest all-metal smartphone. Since the phone has been on the market for a few weeks now, we’re getting a lot of questions from new owners. Below is how to change the default text messaging apps.
LG’s new G5 has a lot to offer with its aluminum design, three cameras, removable battery and new fingerprint scanner. And while many business owners may not use the modular design and custom made accessories, everyone will use the built-in software, including the text messaging app.
Like many other manufacturers, LG has created its own text messaging app and installed it on the LG G5. It’s called “Messaging” and it’s pretty good. However, most stock apps are not very attractive, do not have many features and are lacking when it comes to customization. As a result, there are numerous 3rd party options you can download from the Google Play Store.
It’s worth noting that LG’s Messaging app has a few nice customization options in the settings, advanced messaging features, and some nice effects that most stock text apps don’t offer. At the same time, 3rd party apps in the Google Play Store have more to offer and are full of features. Android users can quickly replace key components like text app, camera, keyboard, 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 it can possibly be customized with themes or backgrounds, change the look of message bubbles and colors, customized font and much more. Textra even has floating popup reply windows which are very useful. It all depends on which app owners choose to download, and the link above details a few good options. Read on for quick instructions after reading these.
Instructions
New to Android 4.4 KitKat in 2013 was a change that made it much easier to change text apps to something from the Play Store. There is a special option in settings that turns one on and the other off so users don’t get two notifications from both the stock app and the newly installed option. Something that was troublesome in the early days of Android. LG has hidden this deeply in settings for some reason, but we found it for those who need it.
The first thing you need to do is go to the Google Play Store and download one of the many different third-party text apps. Textra is my favourite, GoSMS is good, and a few people have linked our list above. Download one and you are ready. Some even change the default app settings for you or simply follow the steps outlined below.
Go to settings by pulling down the notification bar and tapping the gear-shaped icon in the top right. Once in the LG G5 settings menu, users will need to select the “” tab and then tap on “”. Strangely enough LG hid this further from here.
Tap the three dots in the top right, select then select the default messaging app you downloaded from the list. We chose Textra.
LG’s new stock messaging app has some nifty options and other new features that users can see when responding, so we’re assuming it’s hidden rather than easy to find. However, these are still limited to certain scenarios and not worth keeping stock apps as your primary text app of choice.
Once owners have followed the steps above and set a text app as default, that app will now be the default (and only) app that can send and receive messages, and the only app you’ll get notifications from. This will not affect who can send or receive your messages and everything will be fine out of the box.
Textra and most 3rd party apps offer tons of customization, font size and color, themes, balloon colors, and even custom notification icons, so go to settings and customize as you see fit. If you want to go back to stock option go back to settings > general > follow the same steps and set LGs as default or uninstall the downloaded text app.
You are ready. Enjoy the LG G5 and try some of the great cases detailed below.
