How to Change Default iPhone Apps for Calls, Messages, Email and More

Customize iPhone and iPad default apps: say goodbye to single choice

The iOS system finally allows users to change the default app! This feature was introduced in the iOS 18.2 update, allowing users to customize browsers, messages, contactless payment apps, and password manager auto-filling settings in Settings & Apps & Default Apps. While not all apps can be customized (such as cameras), this article will guide you on how to take advantage of this new feature and recommend some alternative app options.

How to change the default iPhone and iPad apps

Go to "Settings" > "Apps" > "Default Apps" to easily change the default app. The launch of this feature stems from EU legal action that requires Apple to allow EU users to make specific settings changes. But Apple eventually promoted it globally.

Here, you can change the default mail app to customize the apps used when clicking the "mailto" link; select the default message app (but the function is different from the Android system and cannot completely replace SMS or RCS apps); select the default browser to affect how to open it when clicking a link in the email or message body; select the default contactless payment app (although there are fewer applications currently supported); select the default call app and call filtering app; and select the default keyboard (this setting can also be accessed in Settings & Gt; General & Gt; Keyboard).

In addition, you can customize the automatic filling of the password manager. Enable other apps at the top of the menu to automatically populate passwords using them at the system level (such as logging in when installing a new app). You can also select the setting location of the two-factor verification code in the Set Code Location menu.

Recommended Alternative App

The default app itself is not a problem. If you are used to using Safari, Mail and Apple's own password manager, you don't need to change it for the sake of change.

But if you want to try other options, here are some suggestions:

• Browser: If you are tired of Safari's automatic opening, consider browsers that support cross-platform synchronization such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, Microsoft Edge, or choose more unique browsers such as DuckDuckGo and Onion Browser.

• Mail app: If you are primarily using Gmail or Outlook, you can set them as the default mail app, thereby avoiding setting up a mailbox account in the mail app and hiding the mail app from the home screen.

• Password Manager AutoFill: If you use your browser to manage your passwords, enable Chrome's autofill feature to access all passwords saved in your Google account anywhere you need to enter your username and password.

Currently, there are fewer alternatives for information applications and contactless payment applications. In terms of call applications, there are only two options: FaceTime and phone, and the difference is not yet clear.

Customized applications are not supported yet

Career app is currently missing from the Default Apps menu. However, you can change the default camera app in disguise by changing the lock screen shortcut or launching the app of your choice using the action button.

Map and calendar apps are also missing, which is a pity that iOS systems have been able to recognize addresses and coordinates throughout the system and create events quickly. In the future, as the system is updated, custom functions of these applications may be added one after another.

Some applications allow changes within their ecosystems, such as Google and Microsoft. If you use Gmail, you can set Chrome as the "default browser" app in the Google app for years - predate Apple added this option at the system level. In Gmail, you can make these changes under Settings > "Default Apps". Outlook also had a now-defunct Open Links with Apps option, which only supports Microsoft Edge.

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While being able to select the default app is a significant improvement for most iPhone users, EU users can now choose from different app stores, such as the SetApp Mobile store with Netflix-style subscription model. Apple does not seem to have plans to extend this feature to the rest of the world.

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