iPhones in the EU get ability to set more default apps, delete more built-in ones | Infinium-tech

Today Apple has announced new changes it will implement across its mobile operating system to better comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act. As a result of “ongoing and continued dialogue with the European Commission,” the company will allow iPhones and iPads in the EU to set non-Apple defaults for more apps — in addition to the browser, mail, app marketplace, and contactless apps, you’ll also be able to switch to different defaults for phone calls, messaging, managing passwords, keyboard, and call spam filters.

All of this will be presented under a new Default Apps section at the top of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18’s new Apps settings. The ability to set these new defaults will come “in an update later this year.” Then, in the spring of 2025, Apple will add support for setting defaults for navigation apps and translation.

New Default Apps section in Settings

Apple will also let EU users delete more built-in apps. “In an update later this year”, its mobile operating systems will let you delete the App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos and Safari. Thus, of Apple’s apps, only Settings and Phone will be deleted No After this it can be removed.

Finally, the updated browser choice screen will be shown to all users in the EU who have set Safari as their default browser, even if they have seen the choice screen before. This new choice screen will contain additional information about third-party browsers, and the developers of those browsers will get more data from Apple about the performance of the choice screen.

New browser options screen

If you choose a different browser as your default through this new Choices screen and you had Safari in your Dock or on the first page of your home screen, your selected browser will replace the Safari icon in your Dock or on your home screen. If your preferred third-party browser is already installed, it will open once you select it, and if it isn’t installed, it will begin downloading.

Source