Apple will introduce a series of changes with iOS 18 to the browser selection screen, and with this update will add the possibility of uninstalling system applications and replacing them with others of the user’s preference.
The entry into force of the Digital Market Act in the European Union forced Apple to introduce a browser selection screen in iOS 17.4, which was displayed when launching Safari for the first time after installing the operating system update.
The company has now announced some changes to how and under what circumstances the choice screen will appear, which will come into effect with the arrival of iOS and iPadOS 18.
After installing the update, the choice screen will appear to iPhone and iPad users the first time they open Safari, as well as those who saw it previously. This screen will appear once per device, not per user, as Apple notes on the developer blog.
On the other hand, if the user already has a default browser other than Safari on their device, the selection screen will not be displayed. However, it will be displayed if they chose Safari on the old model when migrating from a phone or tablet, as a reselection.
As part of the changes, users will be able to select the browser of their choice without first needing to see a description of the options available in the App Store, although they will be able to access it if they want to.
Before choosing a browser as the default, users will need to navigate vertically through the page of choice and view the full list of options.
If the user already has a browser of their choice installed on the device other than Safari, it will open automatically, and if not, it will be downloaded and installed. It will also replace Safari on the home page and in the dock.
Additionally, as reported by Macrumors, in addition to the browser, users will be able to choose different system applications as default, such as the messaging app. Instead of iMessage, they will be able to set WhatsApp or another of their choice. This will also happen with password managers, call apps, keyboards, navigation or translation, and the possibility of uninstalling them will be added.