The upcoming iOS 18.2 update will allow people in the European Union to remove core applications such as the App Store, Safari, and other native apps.
This is one of several changes to the iPhone caused by the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA). Previously, users could remove some pre-installed apps such as Calculator, Calendar, Music, and Notes. The first beta of iOS 18.2 expands on this feature, allowing EU users to delete App Store, Camera, Safari, Messages, and Photos. This change addresses one of the key provisions of the DMA, which requires technology companies to make it easy for users to uninstall the apps of their choice. Apple confirmed in August 2024 that the feature would be introduced in a future iOS update.
In the EU, users can download alternative app marketplaces instead of the App Store. Apple has included a dedicated button within the Settings app to allow users to restore the App Store after deletion if necessary. This gives users in the region a lot of flexibility and allows competitors to create their own app stores for Apple devices if they wish. This may be what US users can expect from Apple in the future, as the US considers whether Apple constitutes an illegal monopoly. This will give US users an idea of what Google can do once the long suspension since the company was ordered to open Android’s Play Store ends.
The iOS 18.2 update also includes other changes for users outside the EU. It introduces a new menu for setting default apps for a variety of features, including email, messaging, calling, web browsing, password management, keyboard, and more. Additionally, the iOS 18.2 update adds new features such as Image Playground, Genmoji, ChatGPT integration, and Visual Search for iPhone 16 models.
At this time, the iOS 18.2 beta is only available on devices with Apple Intelligence, including iPhone 15 Pro and later models and M1 iPad and later.
Source: 9to5Mac
