Apple is Make significant changes to its mobile operating systems in response to Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). This time, the company is adapting its tight control over its devices and ecosystem to comply with the rules set by the EU and will allow iPhone and iPad users in the EU to delete the App Store.
Perhaps the most surprising new feature is Apple’s decision to allow the deletion of several core apps that were previously considered system-critical. These apps include Messages, the App Store, Photos, the Camera, and even Safari. While users have been able to remove some default apps in the past, this is the first time that critical applications like Messages and the App Store can be deleted entirely. For European users, this offers an unprecedented level of flexibility in choosing how to use their devices. Apple has resisted calls to allow such deletions in the past, but it seems that the company has found a way to maintain system stability even after these apps are removed. Users who choose to delete the App Store, for example, can still reinstall it from the Settings menu, and other deleted apps can be re-downloaded from the App Store itself.
Additionally, developers previously had to distribute their apps exclusively through the App Store and use Apple’s payment system, from which the company took a percentage of each transaction. This monopoly on app distribution has long been a point of contention among developers, many of whom felt that Apple’s policies stifled competition and innovation. Now, Apple will allow developers to distribute their apps through alternative marketplaces, limiting the company’s control over app monetization. This means developers can now promote their apps outside of the App Store and offer payment methods, effectively bypassing Apple’s share of revenue.
Earlier this year, Apple made headlines when it allowed sideloading and third-party app marketplaces on its devices within the EU – an unprecedented move for the company. These changes are just the beginning, as the company prepares to roll out even more extensive updates to comply with the DMA. iPhone and iPad users in the EU will soon have more control over their devices, including the ability to customize default apps and delete core Apple applications that were previously locked into the system.
“By the end of this year, we will be making changes to the browser selection screen, default apps, and app deletion for iOS and iPadOS for users in the EU. These updates are the result of our ongoing and continued dialogue with the European Commission on compliance with the Digital Market Act requirements in these areas,” Apple said in an official update.
One of the key areas where Apple is making changes is in the browser selection screen for iPhone and iPad users. In previous versions of iOS, users were mainly limited to Safari as the default browser, although other browsers could be installed. Now, with iOS 18 and iPadOS 18, Apple is offering a new browser selection screen that provides detailed information about available browsers, including performance data, so users can make more informed decisions about their default web browser.
Another major change that comes with these updates is the introduction of a new “Default Apps” section in the Settings menu. This section lists all the default apps currently in use and gives users the ability to set non-Apple applications as the default for a variety of functions. In addition to browsers and email, users can now set default apps for tasks like dialing phone numbers, sending messages, navigating, translating texts, managing passwords, and even filtering spam calls.
