This measure responds to the requirements set by the Digital Markets Law (DMA) of the European Union, which requires platforms to provide users with more freedom of choice in order to promote competition and avoid domain of the native applications of large companies.
Choose default browser on iPhone
The change, which will be implemented with the iOS 18.4 updates and iPadOS 18.4will allow users to choose alternatives such as Google Maps, Waze or Google Translate instead of Apple’s built-in applications, such as Apple Maps or Translate. This means that users will finally be able to customize their devices according to their preferences and needs. You can configure alternative browsers.
Apple’s decision is part of the DMA compliance strategy, a regulation that seeks to avoid anti-competitive practices in the digital sector. The DMA had already forced Apple to allow the use of browsers and alternative app stores on your devices within European territory.
Until recently, Apple had been reluctant to change its closed ecosystem and default apps. However, pressure from the European Commission seems to have had an effect, and Apple has released a document detailing the steps you are taking to comply with the DMA regulations, which was made public in the last few hours. This document coincides with the recent communication from the European Commission, in which it announced that it will evaluate whether the changes implemented in iPadOS really comply with the provisions of the WFD.
The war between Apple and the European Union continues
With the arrival of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, iPhone and iPad users in the EU will find a new section in Settings, called Default Appsfrom which you can manage the default applications for various system functions. In addition to being able to choose browsers or email managers, you will now be able to select default navigation and translation apps.
This novelty expands the range of applications that users can customize. Since iOS 18.2, users could already choose default apps for functions such as browser, email, password manager, messaging apps, and call filters.
This shift marks an important paradigm shift for Apple, which until now had defended its closed ecosystem as a model that guarantees security and the best user experience. However, with the regulatory push from the European Union, Apple has had to find a balance between the control of its software and the flexibility required by European regulations.
For many users, this change represents a significant improvement in the user experience, since they will be able to access their favorite applications without depending on Apple’s native ones. However, for the company, this opening could mean a loss of control over the ecosystem that it has protected so much.
