Apple plays fast and loose with defaults in iOS 14

I upgraded to iOS 14 on my iPhone SE. Yes, I can change the default web browser from Safari to Edge, and the default mail app from Mail to Outlook. But, if I restart the phone the defaults revert back to Safari and Mail.

Conversation 17 comments

  • j5

    Premium Member
    16 September, 2020 - 11:45 pm

    <p>Same thing just happened to me. I have an iPhone 8 Plus, Edge &amp; Outlook set as default, restarted, both were back to Safari &amp; Mail. Is it Apple being nefarious…hm I don't know?</p>

    • lwetzel

      Premium Member
      17 September, 2020 - 12:24 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#575620">In reply to j5:</a></em></blockquote><p>I am showing the same results. &lt;update&gt; I just test same with Chrome. It is also being reset to Safari. Don't think it is a bug. Intentional is my guess! </p><p><br></p><p>Outlook can be fixed. Just delete Mail and it stays default Outlook. In case you don't know Safari can't be removed. Other browsers use it. </p><p><br></p>

      • michael_goff

        18 September, 2020 - 12:38 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#575782">In reply to lwetzel:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>So you think they took the time to code a feature, come up with new guidelines, and advertise a feature that they didn't intend for anyone to use? Is that really what you're going with?</p>

        • lwetzel

          Premium Member
          18 September, 2020 - 2:28 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#576454">In reply to Michael_Goff:</a></em></blockquote><p>Some may call that competition. </p>

          • michael_goff

            20 September, 2020 - 2:58 pm

            <blockquote><em><a href="#576496">In reply to lwetzel:</a></em></blockquote><p>What?</p>

  • Daninbusiness

    Premium Member
    17 September, 2020 - 10:09 am

    <blockquote><em><a href="#575622">In reply to lvthunder:</a></em></blockquote><p>Probably – it's just a surprising one given the hype and anticipation around the feature, it's surprising that this wasn't caught before or simply wasn't prioritized to fix in the current release.</p>

    • bkkcanuck

      23 October, 2020 - 10:05 pm

      <blockquote><em><a href="#575719">In reply to Daninbusiness:</a></em></blockquote><p>Just the fact there were no beta testers for that function. During updating of Edge, it likely is temporarily removed and the settings get reset to defaults when the default app is removed. In the end, it depends on who is testing, and there ability to predict scenarios that might cause problems. I know that when I have made a defect and it got out of development but it is in QA testing – I cannot fix the issue without a tracking number since it is no longer in development. I usually make my own list locally (developers cannot add issues for some reason) and if not related to a reported issue I might wait a bit before reporting it (especially if I am overloaded)… I have on many occassions waited til near the end of the testing cycle before giving up on testers to find what I think should be obvious (or when my schedule lightens up a bit)… and in many cases it is over a month into testing before doing that. (pre-beta)</p><p>The beta testers themselves are more likely NOT to other apps during beta testing (like mail or browser) since those apps have not been updated – and testing what is not the latest internal build of those … not the best allocation of time (I would expect beta testers of those apps would be doing that and reporting it there).</p>

  • innitrichie

    17 September, 2020 - 1:12 pm

    <p>It's undoubtedly a bug. This wasn't tested during the betas because apps were not permitted to be updated to support setting the defaults. So now the bug is uncovered, it will be quickly fixed in a point release.</p>

  • ghostrider

    18 September, 2020 - 6:59 am

    <p>Apple don't allow you to change from their default apps! My word, how could you even think such a thing. Apple <em>always </em>knows what's best for you!</p>

  • StevenLayton

    18 September, 2020 - 3:24 pm

    <p>I enjoy a good tinfoil hat conspiracy as much as the next guy, but this is a bug that will be quickly fixed.</p>

  • lwetzel

    Premium Member
    19 September, 2020 - 10:15 am

    <blockquote><em><a href="#576579">In reply to cavalier_eternal:</a></em></blockquote><p>Thanks for looking out for me.</p>

  • dprozzo

    19 September, 2020 - 9:53 pm

    <p>In an article at macrumors.com, Apple has acknowledged this as a bug and says that it will be fixed.</p>

  • dprozzo

    23 October, 2020 - 9:34 am

    <p>The bug appears to be only partly fixed. The default browser is again reset to Safari if Edge is updated. I assume the same is true of Mail/Outlook, but I can't be sure because I deleted Mail.</p>

    • j5

      Premium Member
      23 October, 2020 - 10:39 am

      <blockquote><em><a href="#588036">In reply to dprozzo:</a></em></blockquote><p>I just restarted my iPhone and my defaults weren't changed back to Safari and Mail.</p><p>I have an iPhone 8 Plus just installed iOS 14.1 yesterday. I have Edge and Outlook as my defaults. Have you installed the latest iOS update? </p>

      • dprozzo

        23 October, 2020 - 4:39 pm

        <blockquote><em><a href="#588052">In reply to j5:</a></em></blockquote><p>The restart problem has been fixed. But I was reset to Safari (apparently) after Edge was updated. Using iOS 14.1</p><p><br></p><p>10/27 Outlook and Edge updated today. Defaults reset to Safari and Mail.</p>

        • j5

          Premium Member
          25 October, 2020 - 10:25 pm

          <blockquote><em><a href="#588139">In reply to dprozzo:</a></em></blockquote><p>Hm, might be another bug? After I installed the latest update my defaults were still the same Edge and Outlook.</p>

  • phil_adcock

    25 October, 2020 - 9:17 am

    <p>I decided to change back to Safari as my default simply because I use outlook and when I was clicking links that are suppose to launch my apps Chrome or Edge just couldn't carry on the task. Safari handled the jump just fine and would open the app with no issues. Chrome and Edge both launched the app after about 8 splash screens but then couldn't load the fulfillment tabs in each respective app.</p>

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