Apple Will Soon Let Some iPhone Users Remove App Store and Other Major iOS Changes

iPhone and iPad users in the European Union will have a lot more choice when it comes to what apps are available on their devices as Apple comes under pressure from regulators. Even the seemingly unshakable Apple App Store will face axes if a user makes such a choice, thanks to new rules introduced by the Digital Markets Act (DMA).

In an update for developers, the company says that “by the end of this year, we’ll be rolling out changes to the browser picker, default apps, and app removal for iOS and iPadOS users in the EU.” These changes will roll out with the release of the upcoming iPhone 16 series, adding a bit of complexity to the setup process that hopefully won’t overwhelm users accustomed to a more streamlined experience.

At the very least, Apple wants to make the task of choosing all those default apps a little easier. There’s a new section in the Settings app coming in iOS 18 and iPad OS 18 that will let users choose what they want to set as the default app for tasks like password management, messages, keyboards, and more.

These changes will have a big impact on Apple, as well as its users. The company relies on its partnership with Google, where the search giant’s offerings are the default option in Safari. It’s likely that the revenue Apple relied on through that search deal will be significantly reduced now that Safari is no longer the default web browser in the EU.

It will be interesting to see how users react once this new reality comes into effect, and whether it will prompt other regions to make the same demands on Apple.