iOS 18 Will Let EU Users Change Default Apps for Phone Calls, Messaging, and More

Apple has just announced some upcoming DMA-related changes for iOS and iPadOS users in the EU. Earlier this year, Apple allowed alternative app stores and browser engines in the EU to comply with the Digital Markets Act. Now, the company plans to go even further with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 by allowing EU users to change even more default apps.

In the EU, Apple plans to introduce a new Default Apps Section on iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 where users will be able to see all the default apps they can configure, including their default browser, mail, app store, and contactless apps. “In future software updates, users will get new default settings for dialing phone numbers, sending messages, translating text, navigation, managing passwords, keyboards, and call spam filters,” Apple said, adding that setting defaults for navigation apps and translation would be available in spring 2025.

This is a pretty big deal overall, and this will make iOS in the EU more similar to how Android works. Android users have been able to use alternative phone or messaging apps for a while, and it looks like iOS users in the EU will soon get a similar level of choice. Ultimately, it looks like a company like Google may also be able to release its popular Google Messages app on iOS.

Later this year, an upcoming update to iOS and iPadOS will also allow EU users to delete more inbox apps, including Messages, Camera, Photos, Safari, and even the App Store. Again, this is all good on paper, but it’s not clear yet how users will be able to reinstall these apps (especially the App Store) after they delete them. As of today, the App Store is where you can reinstall deleted inbox apps such as Apple Music, or Calculator, and it’s probably not something you may want to get rid of.

Apple also detailed today some upcoming changes to its browser choice screen in the EU. The updated choice screen will provide more information about alternative web browsers, and it will be shown to all users who have set Safari as their default browser.