If you’re like most people, you probably use a messaging app on your Android phone to communicate with your friends and family. But what if you want to use a different messaging app for specific purposes? For example, if you’re a business owner and want to send out notices or alerts through your WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger app, then you need to set up a default SMS messaging app for that purpose. Here’s how:

  1. Open the Settings app on your Android phone and select the Messages tab.
  2. Scroll down and select the Default SMS App option.
  3. Enter the name of the messaging app that you want to use as your default SMS messaging app for communication purposes. For example, WhatsApp would be fine for this purpose.
  4. Click on OK to finish setting up the default SMS messaging app for your Android phone.

Like its competitors, Signal is mainly used for instant messaging other people who use the app. However, the Android app has an extra feature: It can be set as your device’s default SMS messaging app. Unfortunately, the functionality isn’t available on iPhone.

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Not only will you be able to communicate with your Signal contacts, but you’ll also be able to send and receive text messages with your phone number. All of your conversations can be in one place. Let’s do it.

First, open the Signal app on your Android device. Next, tap the three-dot menu icon in the top-right corner of the app.

Select “Settings” from the menu.

Tap “Chats” in the Settings menu.

Next, tap “SMS and MMS” at the top of the screen.

Then tap “Use as default SMS app.”

A pop-up window will ask you to choose your default SMS app. Select “Signal” and tap “Set as Default.”

That’s it. Sending an SMS message is the same as sending a Signal message. Contacts not using Signal will appear with an SMS label.

If for whatever reason you would like to send an SMS to a Signal contact, you can do that, too. Start by typing a message like you normally would.

This time, instead of tapping the send button, tap it and hold.

Now you have the option to switch to “Insecure SMS.” As previously mentioned, SMS messages are not encrypted like Signal messages.

The send button will now be gray with an unlock icon. Tap it to send the SMS message.

You’re all set! Now you can keep all of your conversations, whether they’re over Signal or SMS, in one place. Keep in mind that you will not be able to access SMS through the Signal Desktop app.

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