Apple will let you change the default calling and messaging apps in iOS 18.2

With the release of iOS 18.2, iPhone users will be able to make their devices more personalized and customizable. Previously it looked like the ability to change the default apps for calls and messages would only be available in the EU, but Apple has confirmed that the feature will be available to all users worldwide.

An iOS 18.2 release.

New default settings for all iPhone users

Apple’s developer site has announced that iPhone users will be able to set new default apps for calls and messages with the release of iOS 18.2, so the distinction between smartphones in the US and EU will become smaller. Previously, the feature was announced only for Europe, but now it will be available globally.

The feature will be available globally.

The first beta version of iOS 18.2 for developers has already been released, and as 9to5Mac noted, there’s a new section in the settings menu that lets you control default apps. This list includes not only familiar settings such as the browser and email client, but also new options related to call filtering, passwords and keyboards. It’s important to note that these same options are also available to users in the US who have downloaded the beta version.

See below.

Influence from European regulators

Apple added this flexibility to the iPhone’s settings as a response to European Union regulators. It’s because of these changes that iOS 18 users can now use RCS (Rich Communication Services), a new technology for messaging.

Apple’s new messaging technology is now available to iOS 18 users.

Some major changes, however, such as support for third-party app stores and alternative browser engines, remain available only in the EU. As a result, iPhone devices in Europe have started to look very different from their counterparts in the US. But with the new changes to be applied globally, Apple aims to maintain consistency across its products, making iPhone use more fun for all users.