Apple Adjusts EU App Ecosystem to Comply with Digital Markets Act

Apple Adjusts EU App Ecosystem to Comply with Digital Markets ActApple is making significant changes to the app ecosystem for EU users on its devices to comply with the Digital Markets Act regulations. These changes will allow users to set more app defaults and remove some core iOS apps

Apple Adjusts EU App Ecosystem to Comply with Digital Markets Act

Apple is making significant changes to the app ecosystem for EU users on its devices to comply with the Digital Markets Act regulations. These changes will allow users to set more app defaults and remove some core iOS apps.

Currently, iPhone users in the EU can already set different defaults for their browser, email app, app store, and contactless payment. However, Apple will further expand this functionality, allowing users to choose new defaults for phone, messaging, password manager, keyboard, call spam filtering, navigation, and translation. This means users can set WhatsApp as their default messaging app and Waze as their default map app, replacing Messages and Apple Maps.

These new features will be rolled out starting with the iOS 18 update later this year. Default settings for phone, messages, password manager, spam call filter, and keyboard will be effective immediately upon the update's release, while options for navigation and translation defaults will be introduced in the spring of 2025. To facilitate user management of new default apps, Apple will add a "Default Apps" section in the "Settings" app.

Beyond setting new app defaults, Apple will also allow users to remove some core apps. Users can delete the App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Safari apps, but "Settings" and "Phone" apps cannot be deleted. If users delete the App Store app, they can reinstall it from the "Settings" app. Other deleted apps can be reinstalled from the App Store.

In addition to default app settings, Apple has updated its experience for default browser selection. In iOS 17.4, EU users could randomly choose their default browser from the top 12 browsers in their region. However, in iOS 18, if users set Safari as the default browser, the browser selection window will pop up again. This time, the window will include descriptions of the browsers and offer the option to set the default browser directly within the selection window.

If the user's chosen browser is installed on their device, the browser will open automatically. If not, a download icon will be displayed, and the browser will open after downloading. Users can also scroll through all available browser options and make their selection.

It is important to note that the option to set the default browser will only appear again if users choose Safari as the default. If users have already selected Chrome as the default browser, the selection window will not pop up again after the iOS 18 update. Additionally, users will see the selection interface across all devices, not just on one. The interface will also appear for the first time after opening Safari following the update.

Setting a new default browser will replace the Safari icon when Safari appears on the user's home screen or Dock. The browser default pop-up will also appear when migrating to a new device if the user had previously set Safari as the default.

These changes only apply to iPhone and iPad users in the EU region who have updated to iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Other regions, such as the US, will not have access to these features.

These adjustments made by Apple are intended to comply with the EU's Digital Markets Act. The act aims to promote competition and give users more control over their devices and data. Apple states that these changes will provide EU users with more choice and flexibility.

However, some are concerned that these changes may negatively impact Apple's app ecosystem. For example, some worry that users may delete the App Store app and use alternative app stores to download apps. This could reduce Apple's income from app sales and potentially lead to a decline in app quality.

Despite these concerns, Apple seems determined to comply with EU law. These changes are likely to have similar effects on other regions as governments continue to enact similar laws regulating the tech industry.

Overall, these changes to Apple's EU app ecosystem are a significant development that could have far-reaching implications for the global tech industry.