With the impending iOS 18.2 update, iPhone owners worldwide will be able to customise their default messaging and calling apps, according to Apple.
As reported by 9to5Mac.,this new feature was previously believed to be exclusive to users in the European Union.
A settings option for controlling default apps beyond browsers and email has been included in the first developer beta of iOS 18.2, which was just made public.
So far, the company has only permitted modifications to the default email and browser applications. These options were found in the Mail and Safari menus. With iOS 18.2, changing all of the default apps will be possible through a dedicated menu.
“Manage your default apps for iPhone, including choosing the apps you prefer to use for opening links on the web, sending emails, making contactless payments, and more,” the default app menu description reads.
Navigate to Settings -> Applications -> Default applications to begin utilising other apps for messages and calls.
You must install the iOS 18.2 beta in order to test the new feature for yourself. Please be aware that only iPhones with Apple Intelligence support can use it. But this innovation should also be made possible for non-AI gadgets with the next beta release.
In an update on Apple Developer, the company wrote: “By the end of this year, we’ll make changes to the browser choice screen, default apps, and app deletion for iOS and iPadOS for users in the EU.”
This is one of numerous updates to iPhones prompted by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act. Previously, users could remove various pre-installed programs, such as Calculator, Calendar, Music, and Notes.
The first beta version of iOS 18.2 adds this feature, allowing EU users to delete the App Store, Camera, Safari, Messages, and Photos.
This update fulfils one of the DMA’s core rules, which requires digital companies to make it easy for customers to delete any software they desire.
Apple previously announced in August 2024 that this functionality would be included in a future iOS release.
We earlier reported that Apple and Goldman Sachs were ordered by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) on Wednesday to pay over $89 million for improperly handling customer complaints about Apple Card transactions.
