Apple is making changes to iOS and iPadOS to allow iPhone and iPad users in the European Union to delete default apps and more in further compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA). EU users will have the option to delete the App Store altogether and set default apps for texting, making phone calls, and more.
Later this year, Apple will add a new Default Apps section in the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 Settings app to set third-party apps as default for more categories. EU iPhone users can already set default apps for browser, mail, app marketplace, and contactless payments, but this will be expanded to include defaults for phone calls, messaging, password managers, keyboards, and call spam filters.
In another iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 update early next year, this will be expanded to include setting new defaults for navigation and translation apps. Additionally, users will be able to delete core iOS and iPadOS apps including the App Store, Camera, Messages, and Safari, leaving Settings and Phone as undeletable. Deleted apps can be recovered from the App Store, which itself can be reinstalled from a new menu in Settings.
Discover new horizons, always connected with eSIM
Travel the world stress and hassle-free with the best eSIM service available. Enjoy unlimited data, 5G speeds, and global coverage for affordable prices with Holafly. And, enjoy an exclusive 5% discount.
More changes are also coming to the options panel when selecting a default web browser app other than Safari. The new panel will include a short description for each browser option, as well as setting the default directly from the choice panel. Users who have already selected Safari as a default in iOS 17.4 will be shown the choice screen again the first time they update to iOS 18, with the choice screen surfaced for every device instead of once per Apple ID account.
The choice screen will prevent users from selecting a default browser unless they scroll through the full panel to view all available options. Once a new default browser is selected, it will automatically replace the Safari icon if it’s in the Dock or on the first page of the Home Screen. Finally, third-party browser developers will have more insights into the performance of their apps from the choice screen, including selection rates on the choice screen and information about default selection.
These changes are part of further compliance that Apple is implementing to conform with the DMA that first went into effect as of iOS 17.4 in March. The company could make more changes as the EU threatens Apple with hefty fines and more investigations under the DMA’s power.
