Apple to let EU iPhone users change the default phone and messaging apps soon
It'll give iPhone and iPad users unprecedented control over default apps and the ability to delete built-in apps, starting later this year.
Looks like Apple is making some big changes for iPhone and iPad users in the European Union (EU). The tech giant dropped a blog post on Thursday saying they're letting EU users choose their own apps for things like making calls, sending messages, typing, and managing passwords. And it's all because of the Digital Market Act rules the European Commission put in place to make the tech sector more fair for everyone.
Come the end of 2024, if you're in the EU, you'll see a new "Default Apps" section in your Settings. That's where you'll get to pick which apps you want to use for all those basic phone functions.
But Apple's not stopping there. The company says it's also changing how you pick your default web browser. So, if you're using Safari as your default browser, you'll see a new screen with other options like Firefox and Chrome. You'll then need to scroll through all of them before you decide, and you'll also get to see each browser's App Store description right there on the screen. Apple says they're doing this to be more open, and they're even going to give the browser developers more info on how people are using this new selection screen.
Looking ahead to spring 2025, Apple is planning to let EU users choose default apps for even more things, like navigation, translation, and blocking those annoying spam calls. And get this, they're going to let users delete apps that you couldn't before, like the App Store and Camera. Only the Settings and Phone apps are sticking around, no matter what.
Emmanuel Oyedeji
This update also comes right after Apple had to let Spotify show prices in their app, following a hefty $2 billion fine from the EU for playing unfairly. As these changes roll out with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 in the EU, it'll be interesting to see how people customize their devices.
Kelechi Edeh
