EU iPhones Will Soon Allow Changing Default Phone and Messaging Apps

Apple is set to introduce new customization options for iPhone and iPad users in the European Union, allowing them to choose default apps for phone calls, messaging, keyboards, password managers, and more. This change will be rolled out later this year in a new “Default Apps” section within the Settings app.

In addition to these options, Apple plans to expand this feature in the spring of next year, enabling users to set default navigation, translation apps, and call spam filter apps. Furthermore, EU iPhone users will soon have the ability to delete several native Apple apps, including the App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Safari. However, the Settings and Phone apps will remain undeletable.

Small adjustments are also coming to the browser selection process for EU users. When Safari is first opened on an iPhone, users will now see a prompt allowing them to install alternative browsers like Firefox, Chrome, or DuckDuckGo. After the update, if Safari is set as the default browser, users will need to scroll through the complete list of available browsers before making their selection. Additionally, the choice screen will now display the App Store description for each browser, and developers will gain access to enhanced performance data related to this screen.

Apple has already enabled EU users to change their default browser and email app, and the company is gradually opening the iPhone ecosystem to third-party app marketplaces. Last week, the Epic Games Store became available on iOS devices, marking another step towards a more open platform.