iOS 18.4 lets you change your iPhone's default apps in some categories. Here's how to change them

Thanks to EU regulations, we can now change the default apps on our iPhones and iPads.
#ios #ipados #iphone

Its simply a matter of choosing the default app you prefer. Photo: HWZ.

Its simply a matter of choosing the default app you prefer. Photo: HWZ.

Don’t like using some of the apps that Apple has foisted upon us? Is having to use apps like Messages and Apple Mail too restrictive? Well, in iOS 18.4, you can change these default apps to apps like WhatsApp or Gmail easily and legally too. 

If you want to use WhatsApp for both calls and messages for example, check that it's been updated to at least version 25.8.74. Then its:

  • Settings >
  • Apps >
  • Default Apps >
  • Calling and Messaging options

and selecting WhatsApp from the available options.

You can also set new default apps for your preferred browser, translation app, and even your contactless payment wallet. The full list of apps that can be changed are: 

  • App Installation (not all countries and regions) 
  • Browser App 
  • Calling 
  • Call Filtering 
  • Contactless Payment Apps (not all countries and regions) 
  • Email 
  • Keyboards 
  • Messaging
  • Navigation (not all countries and regions) 
  • Passwords & Codes 
  • Translation 

As you can see from the screenshots I took above, we don't have all of the options available to those in the EU, but navigation would be the only choice I'd add to the list.  

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