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

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

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.

safari chrome ios
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

Popular Stories

MacBook Pro Low Angle Wide Lens

Apple to Launch 'MacBook Ultra' With These Six New Features

Friday April 24, 2026 10:32 am PDT by
While the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro were just updated with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips last month, bigger changes are reportedly around the corner. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the higher-end MacBook Pro models will be receiving a major redesign by early 2027, and he said that Apple might use "MacBook Ultra" branding for them. If so, the MacBook Ultra would likely be a...
Apple TV Thumb 3

Here's What's Coming in the 2026 Apple TV

Thursday April 23, 2026 12:08 pm PDT by
There are a lot of folks waiting for a new version of the Apple TV because the set-top box hasn't been updated since 2022. There is an update coming this year, but people will need to wait a bit longer because Apple is holding the next Apple TV until the new version of Siri comes out this fall. Design Apple TV design updates don't happen often, and that's not changing in 2026. The next...
Apple Maps General

Tim Cook Calls Apple Maps Launch His 'First Really Big Mistake' as CEO

Thursday April 23, 2026 5:29 am PDT by
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook has named the botched 2012 launch of Apple Maps as his "first really big mistake" in the role, according to a Bloomberg report covering the town hall meeting that was held Tuesday with his recently announced successor, John Ternus. The Maps app launched with mislabeled landmarks, faulty directions, and a user experience that fell well short of Google Maps at the...

Top Rated Comments

76 months ago
How about Spotify as default music app...
Score: 13 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Blackstick Avatar
76 months ago
Going to stick with Safari and Mail, but I'm sure this is welcome by a few.
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
76 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)
76 months ago
Hopefully maps next year...
Score: 7 Votes (Like | Disagree)
76 months ago
Would love to see the same for third-party Camera Apps !
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
macduke Avatar
76 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)