Edgar Cervantes / Android Authority
TL;DR
- The iOS 18.2 beta introduces changes that allow iPhone users in the EU to uninstall the App Store.
- Apple introduced this change in compliance with EU Digital Markets Law.
- On Android, users have to rely on ADB or root their device and uninstall the Play Store.
Apple recently rolled out the first beta build of iOS 18.2 with a new batch of Apple Intelligence features. The update also introduces changes that allow iPhone users in the EU to uninstall native apps like Camera, Safari, Messages, and Photos, as well as remove the App Store from their devices. Additionally, a new hub has been added to Settings, allowing users to easily change default apps for messaging, calling, email, browser, keyboard, and more.
Apple introduced these changes in compliance with EU digital market law (via 9to5 mac), companies like Apple and Google should allow users to remove preinstalled apps from their devices and use third-party alternatives to the default apps for their respective operating systems. Google allows Android users to remove preinstalled apps from their devices or change the default apps, but it doesn’t provide an easy way to uninstall the Play Store.
Android users can disable the Play Store from their device settings, but this does not remove the app from the device. To completely uninstall the Play Store, users must enable USB debugging, connect the device to the computer, and issue the uninstall command via ADB. Alternatively, users can also root their device and uninstall Play Store and other system apps.
In any case, this process is not as easy as deleting the App Store on iOS. It is unclear whether Google plans to introduce an easier method to uninstall the Play Store. Since the DMA only requires companies to “not prevent end users from uninstalling software applications on their operating systems,” Google is technically compliant and needs to provide a simpler solution. There is no.
