Realme: Set Default Messages App

Realme UI keeps one app registered as the default handler for texts and SMS. When you install a new messaging app, Android does not always switch automatically, so incoming texts and notifications keep opening in the old app.

The setting lives under Settings ➔ App management ➔ Default apps ➔ SMS app. From here you pick any installed messaging app and confirm it with Set the Default SMS app.

Changing the default affects which app receives incoming SMS, shows notification badges, and handles quick replies from the lock screen. Group messaging, RCS chat features or spam filtering only work correctly once the chosen app is actually set as default.

If a new app is missing from the list, open it once after installing it so Android registers it as a valid SMS handler. Switching back to the stock app is the safer option if a third-party app crashes when receiving messages.