Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

iOS 26.2 Adds Safari Search Engine Choice Screen in Japan Ahead of New Law

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
69,909
41,338


With iOS 26.2, Apple is adding a prompt that allows iPhone users in Japan to select a preferred search engine. As noted on Reddit, the option to choose a search engine comes up after installing iOS 26.2 for the first time.

apple-search-engine-settings-safari.jpg

iPhone users in Japan can select from Bing, Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo Japan, or Ecosia, the same options available globally in the Safari settings. In most other countries, Google is the default search engine and there is no prompt to choose a different option when the iPhone first starts up.

While iPhone users outside of Japan can choose one of the other options, doing so requires going into the Safari section of the Settings app to make a change. According to court documents, Google pays Apple roughly $20 billion per year to be the default search engine on Apple devices, which helps to explain why Apple does not offer an up-front choice in most countries.

Japan recently established guidelines that say Apple has to present a neutral choice screen for selecting a search engine during initial setup, hence the new functionality. While Google is the dominant search engine in many countries, Yahoo Japan is widely used in the country.

iOS 26.2 also appears to include support for installing alternative app marketplaces in Japan, which is also required by the Japan Fair Trade Commission's Mobile Software Competition Act. Japan's new rules go into effect on December 18, 2025, which is around the time that iOS 26.2 will see a public launch.

Article Link: iOS 26.2 Adds Safari Search Engine Choice Screen in Japan Ahead of New Law
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2025/11/05/japan-safari-choice-ios-26-2/
canadianreader said:
DuckDuckGo is a solid alternative to Google search.
Click to expand...
I really don't think it is. I have found that basic search DuckDuckGo is sufficient, but if I need to search for something more, it fails and I have to revert to Google. I have changed all my settings so that Google cannot track me for anything, but how effective that is, who knows.
 
  • Like
Reactions: x86dude and canadianreader
Kkspire said:
Aghhh. Governments forcing it to be like android. What’s next, I open messages and have to choose between 8 programs to send a message? The setup screen is already long enough.
Click to expand...

Is it really a big deal?

I can't even remember when I last did the setup process.

Maybe when I got my 13 Mini I guess?
Unless keeping going with my backup at the time skipped a bunch of stuff.

I truly don't recall.
 
  • Like
Reactions: 2ndStreet and Shirasaki
turbineseaplane said:
Is it really a big deal?

I can't even remember when I last did the setup process.

Maybe when I got my 13 Mini I guess?
Unless keeping going with my backup at the time skipped a bunch of stuff.

I truly don't recall.
Click to expand...
No it’s not, and frankly I want government to make iOS more and more like android. That way, people would have less and less reason to switch ecosystems because they got everything they wanted, indirectly helping Apple to further lockdown users within iOS.
 
  • Disagree
  • Like
Reactions: I7guy, Astuces iOS and turbineseaplane
Shirasaki said:
No it’s not, and frankly I want government to make iOS more and more like android. That way, people would have less and less reason to switch ecosystems because they got everything they wanted, indirectly helping Apple to further lockdown users within iOS.
Click to expand...

In what way do you want the government to make iOS more like Android? Seems like Google is making Android more like iOS.
 
Who cares ? Well a lot of people at the moment.

Certain governments are building large AI databases about us, probably about US citizens, possibly non US people. It includes your political opinions on a range of subjects.

Hence the move away from Guegle search engine and mail, and Matta, X and TkTk social media.
(Not a left/right thing).
 
  • Like
Reactions: ProbablyDylan and turbineseaplane
MacRumors said:


With iOS 26.2, Apple is adding a prompt that allows iPhone users in Japan to select a preferred search engine iPhone users in Japan can select from Bing, Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo Japan, or Ecosia

Japan recently established guidelines that say Apple has to present a neutral choice screen for selecting a search engine during initial setup, hence the new functionality. While Google is the dominant search engine in many countries, Yahoo Japan is widely used in the country.
Click to expand...
On the one hand. Sure. Why not. Competition and choice are generally good things. That said, Yahoo! Japan is dog water for search, and given the number of tech illiterate people in Japan, I could see a lot of people unintentionally degrading their search experience.

MacRumors said:


iOS 26.2 also appears to include support for installing alternative app marketplaces in Japan, which is also required by the Japan Fair Trade Commission's Mobile Software Competition Act. Japan's new rules go into effect on December 18, 2025, which is around the time that iOS 26.2 will see a public launch.
Click to expand...
Way to bury the lead! The ability to use alternative app marketplaces is a huge change. That said, even more than with search, alternative app stores have the potential to enable tech illiterate users to notably degrade their experience. The history of Japanese consumer facing IT platforms doesn't exactly inspire confidence either.

Can't wait for the LINE App Store! More time wasting shovelware. More Ads! Nebulous privacy policy! Non existent customer support! Oh, but you'll get another 1% points on their marketplace, and can save 5% on some crap!
 
  • Disagree
Reactions: Shirasaki
Malus120 said:
Yahoo! Japan is dog water for search, and given the number of tech illiterate people in Japan, I could see a lot of people unintentionally degrading their search experience.
Click to expand...

It's not Apple's job to worry about this.
If folks want to use "dog water" for search on their device, that is at their discretion.

Malus120 said:
That said, even more than with search, alternative app stores have the potential to enable tech illiterate users to notably degrade their experience.
Click to expand...

They are tech illiterate but are going to somehow want to and figure out how to install a 3rd party App Store?
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Shirasaki
CarAnalogy said:
In what way do you want the government to make iOS more like Android? Seems like Google is making Android more like iOS.
Click to expand...
Customise iOS? Open NFC hardware for more use cases? More options for third party app replacement of stock apps, such as calculator? iOS HAS become closer to android lately and Google has decided to do the same for android. To me this is a sign both players of this duopoly are making their mobile OS as close to each other as possible.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CarAnalogy and turbineseaplane
Shirasaki said:
No it’s not, and frankly I want government to make iOS more and more like android. That way, people would have less and less reason to switch ecosystems because they got everything they wanted, indirectly helping Apple to further lockdown users within iOS.
Click to expand...
None of these regulatory changes aid in switching to android. In the same way you can’t switch from windows to Linux without compromises.
 
Looks like now the option is present at set up in addition to having the setting accessible through Settings, which was available earlier on. Don’t see the need to ask about this setting at set up, but since Apple is required to do so legally, the change is happening.
 
  • Like
Reactions: mganu
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back