EU iPhones will be able to change the default phone and messaging apps soon

Apple will soon offer iPhone and iPad users in the European Union the ability to set default apps more easily for various functions such as phone calls, messaging, keyboards, and password managers. This new feature, along with the option to delete system apps like the App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Safari, will be introduced in the “Default Apps” section in Settings later this year, while Settings and Phone apps will remain undeletable.

In the spring of next year, functionalities will be expanded to include changing default apps for navigation, translation, and call spam filters. The browser choice screen that appears when first opening Safari will also be updated; users will need to scroll through the entire list and see the App Store caption for each browser option.

These updates align with Apple's efforts to comply with EU regulations and enhance user customization on iPhones. Most notably, this change follows the recent introduction of third-party app marketplaces, such as the Epic Games Store, on the iPhone platform. Developers will gain access to more data regarding the performance of the browser choice screen as part of these new changes.