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How to Change Your Default iPhone Apps

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Apr 12, 2001
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In iOS 18.2, Apple introduced a way for users to select their preferred default apps for iPhone. Apple initially promised that the feature would be coming to the European Union, but it is actually available worldwide.

Change-Default-Browser-App-2025-Feature.jpg

The Freedom to Choose – Why It Matters

The freedom to choose default apps on iPhone represents a marked shift in Apple's traditionally closed ecosystem, giving you more control over how you interact with your device. Rather than being locked into Safari for web browsing or Apple Mail for email, you can now set third-party alternatives like Chrome, Firefox, Gmail, or Outlook as your go-to apps.

This means when you tap a link or email address, your iPhone will automatically open your preferred app instead of Apple's built-in options. The change effectively eliminates the extra steps of manually copying and pasting content between apps or navigating through share sheets to get to the apps you actually want to use.

In iOS 18.2, there are Default App settings for Email, Messaging, Calling, Call Filtering, Browser App, Passwords and Codes, and Keyboards. For users in the European Union, there is also an additional App Installation option to choose an alternative app marketplace instead of the App Store.

On iPhones in select countries and regions, another option called Contactless Apps appears that lets you choose another app apart from the Wallet app to make contactless transactions using your device's NFC technology. Contactless Apps is available in the European Economic Area (European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

How to Set Default Apps on iPhone and iPad

  1. Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad (running iOS 18.2/iPadOS 18.2 or later).
  2. Scroll to the bottom and select Apps.
  3. Tap Default Apps at the top of your list of apps.
    change-default-iphone-apps2.jpg

    Tap a feature to change your default setting to a different app.
    Follow any additional onscreen steps if necessary to set up your default app.
    change-default-iphone-apps1.jpg
In some cases, only one app at a time can be the default app for a feature. In other cases, you can prioritize the apps your device uses. If you can't see an option to set a particular app as the default for a feature, it's best to contact the app developer.

Article Link: How to Change Your Default iPhone Apps
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/how-to/set-default-iphone-apps/
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About alt app stores in the EU: I wonder how much more viruses will spread in the iOS ecosystem and how Apple is increasing antivirus and antimalware protections. “Open” isn’t always inherently good, despite what cyberlibertarians claim. Really don’t want to use resource hogs like most 3rd party security apps. I get the need for options. This would be a good follow up for journalists out there. Any news?
 
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I don't care, I buy Apple based on the fact that I like the Apple phone and it's ecosystem.

If I didn't like it I would buy an Android phone.

Additionally I don't appreciate governments forcing companies to make changes to their product. If people are not happy they buy a different product.
 
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PhilJustRidingAlong said:
I don't care, I buy Apple based on the fact that I like the Apple phone and it's ecosystem.

If I didn't like it I would buy an Android phone.

Additionally I don't appreciate governments forcing companies to make changes to their product. If people are not happy they buy a different product.
Click to expand...

I buy Apple for the hardware, and ignore ecosystems. That way I've never tied to anything in particular.

This is available in the US. The US government didn't force Apple to do anything, or even ask.
 
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neotint said:
About alt app stores in the EU: I wonder how much more viruses will spread in the iOS ecosystem and how Apple is increasing antivirus and antimalware protections. “Open” isn’t always inherently good, despite what cyberlibertarians claim. Really don’t want to use resource hogs like most 3rd party security apps. I get the need for options. This would be a good follow up for journalists out there. Any news?
Click to expand...

You know this "security" spin has been spun for a couple of years now... since well ahead of the EU law going into effect almost a year ago. This spin implied the evil crime syndicates would be emptying EU bank accounts and EU customers would face the broad misery of bricked phones and all kinds of terrible calamities. I've been watching for even one such story. Last I checked, the EU is doing just fine for upwards of a year of this even fuller "freedom"... mostly mirroring exactly what the rest of us have with our Macs.

We keep slinging this viral/security doom over and over and yet, there never seems to be much of a Wolf. "Wolf! Wolf!" cried the boy... but this time the villagers did not come. Show me some actual wolf... or let's move on in our recognition that that was a bunch of spin to protect an easy cash cow vs. an actual broad and far-reaching threat. Again, EU is just fine after almost a year of a more open environment. I doubt the evil crime syndicates with such easy access to EU accounts can be so patient to not take their money and unleash the other doom & devastation spun so heavily. Show me the wolf! Or perhaps there is not one... as we all experience with comparable freedoms in terms of Mac apps, third party stores for Mac apps, etc.
 
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neotint said:
About alt app stores in the EU: I wonder how much more viruses will spread in the iOS ecosystem and how Apple is increasing antivirus and antimalware protections. “Open” isn’t always inherently good, despite what cyberlibertarians claim. Really don’t want to use resource hogs like most 3rd party security apps. I get the need for options. This would be a good follow up for journalists out there. Any news?
Click to expand...

There is nothing open about the iOS app ecosystem, even in the EU.
 
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bviktor said:
Too bad there's no default setting for maps. And even though the web link is a GMaps link, iOS will open it in Apple Maps no matter what I do.
Click to expand...
Yeah, the lack of this annoys me a little too

That and also for being able to change the default music app

I mean, Siri has made this a little bit better as it'll sometimes contextually know that you want to play something on another app like the one you're using, but sometimes there will be times where Siri will come back and ask which app you'd like to use for what you requested to play
 
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neotint said:
About alt app stores in the EU: I wonder how much more viruses will spread in the iOS ecosystem and how Apple is increasing antivirus and antimalware protections. “Open” isn’t always inherently good, despite what cyberlibertarians claim. Really don’t want to use resource hogs like most 3rd party security apps. I get the need for options. This would be a good follow up for journalists out there. Any news?
Click to expand...
The only negative I can see is being able to change the default app for password storage. Looks like apple added that maliciously so they could later say "I told you so" to the EU.
 
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HobeSoundDarryl said:
You know this "security" spin has been spun for a couple of years now... since well ahead of the EU law going into effect almost a year ago. This spin implied the evil crime syndicates would be emptying EU bank accounts and EU customers would face the broad misery of bricked phones and all kinds of terrible calamities. I've been watching for even one such story. Last I checked, the EU is doing just fine for upwards of a year of this even fuller "freedom"... mostly mirroring exactly what the rest of us have with our Macs.

We keep slinging this viral/security doom over and over and yet, there never seems to be much of a Wolf. "Wolf! Wolf!" cried the boy... but this time the villagers did not come. Show me some actual wolf... or let's move on in our recognition that that was a bunch of spin to protect an easy cash cow vs. an actual broad and far-reaching threat. Again, EU is just fine after almost a year of a more open environment. I doubt the evil crime syndicates with such easy access to EU accounts can be so patient to not take their money and unleash the other doom & devastation spun so heavily. Show me the wolf! Or perhaps there is not one... as we all experience with comparable freedoms in terms of Mac apps, third party stores for Mac apps, etc.
Click to expand...

Isn't Android really a good example of this? Do viruses / security issues happen on Android? Sure. But to what extent and how much does it really negatively affect Android users vs. Apple users? Minimally. The way Apple or some Apple users spin it (and I am an Apple fan and user), you would think Android is this crazy, wild west free for all ecosystem that's only out there to steal all of your info and let every bad actor in. It's simply not that bad, and Apple simply isn't that much better (though I do think it is better to some extent).
 
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jntdroid said:
Isn't Android really a good example of this? Do viruses / security issues happen on Android? Sure. But to what extent and how much does it really negatively affect Android users vs. Apple users? Minimally. The way Apple or some Apple users spin it (and I am an Apple fan and user), you would think Android is this crazy, wild west free for all ecosystem that's only out there to steal all of your info and let every bad actor in. It's simply not that bad, and Apple simply isn't that much better (though I do think it is better to some extent).
Click to expand...

It is only "not that bad" if you don't read the news about it. Otherwise, it is pretty bad.




 
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vantelimus said:



Click to expand...

My wife has been using Android for over a decade, and has never once had malware. She isn't particularly tech savvy.

In general, such arguments are FUD. It's rare enough that you would be hard-pressed to find an everyday Android user that is a victim of malware.
 
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macfacts said:
The only negative I can see is being able to change the default app for password storage. Looks like apple added that maliciously so they could later say "I told you so" to the EU.
Click to expand...
iCloud passwords are just as likely to have a major security incident as 1Password is, because they're built on more or less identical principles.

And choosing password management default has been possible on iOS for at least 10 years now.
 
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WarmWinterHat said:
I buy Apple for the hardware, and ignore ecosystems. That way I've never tied to anything in particular.

This is available in the US. The US government didn't force Apple to do anything, or even ask.
Click to expand...
I'm very similar. I hear people talk about the Apple ecosystem, and I have several Apple products, and I don't care about their ecosystem at all. Literally zero. If anything I am invested in the Google ecosystem while using Apple hardware, this way I can switch back and forth to Android whenever I feel like it.
 
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