Android devices are loaded with a long list of settings many of which a lot of users never even get around to using. One major reason for this is probably because they simply don’t understand what this setting means. One of such popular but rarely used settings for many people is the reset app preferences option.
You’ve probably been advised to reset app preferences on your phone to fix an issue or you just came across the setting at some point. So, what exactly does it mean to reset app preferences and when do you use this setting?
What is reset app preferences and what does it do?
You will find the reset apps preferences settings under the
installed app settings on your android device. Selecting
this option alters some settings related to how some apps on
your phone behave. Note that this setting does not affect
any of your data or files. It only changes some app
settings. These include:
1. Default apps
One of the things that will be affected by this option is
the default app settings on your phone. Apps that you have
set as your default app for particular actions such as
playing music, gallery, playing videos, or opening certain
file types will be reset to the default android option. So,
for instance, if you download a new gallery app for your
photos instead of the default file explorer and you set the
new app as default. Choosing to reset app preference will
restore file explorer as your new gallery app.
2. Disabled Apps
Resetting your app preferences will also enable all
previously disabled apps on your device. If you have any
apps disabled on your phone for any reason at all, resetting
the app preference will enable all of them again and you
have to disable them manually again if you want them
disabled.
3. App Notifications
Each app on your phone has a notification setting which you
can hide or disable. However, if you decide to reset your
app preferences, all notification settings and preferences
will be reset to default. This means notifications you chose
to hide earlier will no longer be hidden.
4. Background Data Restrictions:
To control excessive data usage, it isn’t uncommon for users
to set limitations for background data usage individually
for each app. But by resetting app preferences, all the
restrictions you have set will be removed and you’ll have to
manually set them again if you intend to restore them.
5. Permission Restrictions
One final setting that resetting app preferences will affect
is the permission restrictions for your app. Each app has a
set of permissions that must be enabled for them to operate.
This may include access to your camera, contacts,
microphone, and other phone features. If you have set any
limitations to these permissions, resetting app preferences
will remove any changes you have made. All the permissions
you granted earlier will be revoked and you’ll be asked for
permission again to use the feature.
When do you need to reset app preferences?
Generally, this setting is often used as a possible
fix-it-all to resolve phone issues. If your phone or apps
are misbehaving, the first recommendation would be to
restart your device. Then you can try clearing your app
cache. However, when these two options fail, you can try
resetting your app preferences. If any of the settings above
are the cause of the issue your phone is experiencing,
resetting all preferences back to default should get it
fixed.