Help Switch From Mssging App To Hangouts

[Android Question]

My Moto G 5.1 has a Messaging app for texting, but I want to instead try the Google Hangouts texting. Should I Force Stop the texting app I've been using? Or do something else to it? Leave it alone? Thanks

 

[Bg260]

Just go into Hangouts. Tap the three bar menu>Settings>SMS>Enable SMS. This will bring up your device's default app picker. Change it to Hangouts (it may do that automatically).

 

[Clementine_3]

I do always go back and clear cache (not data) and force stop whatever I'm switching from. It probably isn't necessary but every now again I've gotten random double texts if I don't.

 

[svim]

Just a food-for-thought, very tentative warning as far as switching to Hangouts as your primary texting app keep in mind that Google has been slowly but steadily diminishing Hangouts overall functionality. At one time the big push was to integrate Google services into Hangouts but the past couple of years it has been decoupling most services back on their own. Currently Google has Messenger, Allo, and Hangouts all doing texting and essentially competing with each other in the Google-verse so if you like trying out different things ignore all this and enjoy. But if you're the type who gets really fixated on the specific interface and features of an app just be mentally prepared to be a little more flexible.
https://www.cnet.com/news/allo-duo-...uts-google-has-three-messenger-apps-too-many/

 

[Clementine_3]

Good point. I use it mostly because I use Google Voice, not because I like HO's. They have to figure something out for GV, it's just sort of in suspended animation

 

[Bg260]

I use Hangouts as my primary only because I have to. I haven't had cell service for 3 months. Strictly WiFi. I got a Google Voice # and use Hangouts for SMS/MMS and Hangouts dialer for calls. I realized that I am almost always on a wifi connection unless driving, and I don't need to be using the phone then anyway. I hope they continue this service where ever they decide to go with it. Anyway, long story short, there are much better texting apps than Hangouts.

 

[Clementine_3]

Hey @Bg260, I'm totally hijacking the thread here but I just installed HO's Dialer so I can use wifi calling at home, my Verizon signal is getting worse and worse. Anyway, I have it set up so if I use my regular dialer and Voice Choice it will use GV or Verizon, (GV through Verizon). If I want to use wifi then I use the HO's dialer BUT it doesn't show my contacts, only recent calls. It will, obviously, use my wifi but I really need my contacts to show. I've looked around and have found it's a mess. Do your phone contacts show in the HO's Dialer? If so, how'd ya get them there?

Edit: well, I guess it just needed an awful lot of time to sync, like since yesterday. They seem to be there and searchable now. Silly Google.