Apple is to allow iPhone and iPad users in the European Union to delete built-in apps, including the app store, and set default apps.
Apple says these updates come from their “ongoing and continuing dialogue with the European Commission” about compliance with the Digital Market Act’s requirements in these areas.
Developers of browsers offered in the browser choice screen in the EU will have additional information about their browser shown to users who view the choice screen, and will get access to more data about the performance of the choice screen.
The updated choice screen will be shown to all EU users who have Safari set as their default browser.
In addition to setting their default browser, mail, app marketplace, and contactless apps, users will be able to set defaults for phone calls, messaging, password managers, keyboards, and call spam filter
For users in the EU, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will also include a new Default Apps section in Settings that lists defaults available to each user. 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.
Not only will users be able to set default apps, the App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Safari apps will be deletable for users in the EU.
Only Settings and Phone will not be deletable.
In spring 2025, Apple will add support for setting defaults for navigation apps and translation.
