Third-Party Mail and Browser Apps Able to Be Set as Default in iOS and iPadOS 14 - MacRumors
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Third-Party Mail and Browser Apps Able to Be Set as Default in iOS and iPadOS 14

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In iOS and iPadOS 14, users will be able to set a third-party app as the default mail or browser app for the first time, a major change that iOS users have been wanting for years now.

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Apple didn't mention the new feature on stage, but it is included on the Preview website for the update.

Set default email and browser apps. With iOS 14, you can set a third‑party app as the default email or browser app systemwide.

With this option, iPhone and iPad users who prefer third-party email apps like Spark or Edison or third-party browsers like Chrome or Opera will be able to use those by default when tapping on links that compose mail messages or open browser windows.

Apple has been criticized for forcing iOS users to use its built-in Safari and Mail apps, with no option to change those defaults, so this should be a welcome change for those who prefer third-party apps to Apple's own apps.

Apple also plans to allow third-party music services to be used on the HomePod for the first time.

Related Forum: iOS 14

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Top Rated Comments

R
robvalentine
77 months ago
How about Spotify as default music app...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Blackstick Avatar
Blackstick
77 months ago
Going to stick with Safari and Mail, but I'm sure this is welcome by a few.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
Bandaman
77 months ago
We need to be able to set default apps for everything like in Android, not just the mail and browser apps.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
M
maninhat
77 months ago
Hopefully maps next year...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
Cosmosent
77 months ago
Would love to see the same for third-party Camera Apps !
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
macduke
77 months ago

Useless. They should let developers use their own engine. Chrome, Firefox, Edge, they’re all Safari with a skin

Nice! Would be even better if other browsers could bring their own engines in with them, but this is good to see. Quite a day for announcements. Really feels like Apple is firing on all cylinders as far as focusing on all these different OS's at once. (I also expect them to be rough with bugs because of the amount of changes, but these changes are fantastic)
Genuinely curious why you guys want this? You get the user experience without any downsides of those engines, such as slow JS rendering and poor battery life. This has been proven in many tests.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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