Apple will allow you to set extra default apps and delete a couple of extra built-in ones on iPhones within the EU
With the official launch of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Apple will give iPhones and iPads within the EU extra freedom to set non-Apple apps as their defaults. The OS updates will introduce a brand new Default Apps part in Settings, the place you may simply see and choose your most popular apps.
There shall be a brand new Default Apps part in Settings for iPhone customers within the EU. | Picture credit score – Apple
Past simply browsers, mail, app shops, and contactless funds, additionally, you will be capable to select completely different default apps for calls, messaging, translation, navigation, password administration, keyboards, and even name spam filtering.
By the top of this 12 months, we’ll make modifications to the browser selection display, default apps, and app deletion for iOS and iPadOS for customers within the EU. These updates come from our ongoing and persevering with dialogue with the European Fee about compliance with the Digital Market Act’s necessities in these areas.
– Apple, August 2024
Apple can also be giving EU customers the choice to delete extra built-in apps. In an replace coming later this 12 months, it is possible for you to to take away the App Retailer, Messages, Digicam, Pictures, and Safari out of your gadget. On high of that, builders whose browsers seem on the EU’s browser selection display will now see extra detailed details about their browsers offered to customers. They can even have entry to additional knowledge on how the selection display is performing. This up to date selection display will pop up for all EU customers who use Safari as their default browser.
An up to date selection display will present EU customers with extra choices for choosing their default browser. | Picture credit score – Apple
Should you select a distinct default browser via this new selection display and have already got Safari in your Dock or on the primary web page of your Dwelling Display, your new browser will routinely exchange the Safari icon in these spots.
So, fairly a couple of modifications for Apple customers within the EU, proper? With these updates coming with iOS 18, iPhones will grow to be extra customizable, providing customers far more choices for organizing their gadgets. Nevertheless, whereas EU customers will achieve extra freedom of selection, they can even miss out on new options like Apple intelligence, all due to the identical regulation. So, it’s a little bit of a double-edged sword for iPhone customers within the EU in the event you ask me.