Changing Default Apps on Your IPhone Just Got Easier
Your iPhone allows you to change your default browser, email app, password manager, and now even messaging and calling apps. Previously, you had to navigate through multiple settings pages to change these defaults, but with iOS 18.2, Apple has made the process easier. Now you can visit one page and change all the default settings in one fell swoop, saving you a lot of time.
At the time of writing , iOS 18.2 is available as a public beta , which you can access by first signing up for Apple’s beta program and then going to Settings > Software Update > Beta Updates . Please note that using the beta version may cause your device to become unstable, so update at your own risk. Apple is expected to release the full version of iOS 18.2 sometime in December, so you won’t have to wait long to use the final build.
How to Change Default Apps on Your iPhone
After updating to iOS 18.2, you can quickly and easily update your default iPhone apps by opening the Settings app and scrolling to the bottom. Tap Apps > Default Apps . You will see the following options.
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E-mail
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Messaging
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Call
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Call filtering
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Browser application
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Passwords and codes
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Keyboards
To change any of these defaults, simply tap it and select the app you want from the pop-up list. For example, if you have six browsers installed, they will all be listed on the app’s Browser page, and you can choose any one of them as your new default browser. Likewise, if you haven’t installed any browsers other than Safari, you won’t see any alternatives to choose from.
You can also use this settings page as an easy way to add and change keyboards. Clicking “Keyboard” will show a list of suggested keyboards at the top, followed by any third-party keyboards you have installed.