iOS 18.2 Lets EU Users Delete App Store, Safari, Messages, Camera and Photos

With iOS 18.2, iPhone users in the European Union can fully delete a number of core apps, including the App Store, Safari, Messages, Camera, and Photos.

ios 18 2 delete apps eu
Apple said in August that it planned to make additional changes to its Digital Markets Act compliance in the European Union, and one update included the option for EU users to remove system apps. Almost all apps can now be deleted in the EU, with the exception of the Phone app and the Settings app.

Apps that are removed, such as the ‌App Store‌, can be re-downloaded using an "App Installation" section in the Settings app.

In the U.S. and other countries, core apps like ‌Photos‌ and the ‌App Store‌ can be hidden but not entirely removed from the ‌iPhone‌ and replaced with third-party apps.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

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Top Rated Comments

breenmask Avatar
11 months ago
all 10 people are clapping at this.
Score: 56 Votes (Like | Disagree)
klasma Avatar
11 months ago
Unfortunately, deleting the camera doesn’t remove the bump.
Score: 53 Votes (Like | Disagree)
sw1tcher Avatar
11 months ago
Can't believe the number of commenters here who are triggered by this. It's pretty sad.

Meanwhile, people are generally positive about the ability change the default apps.

https://www.macrumors.com/2024/10/23/ios-18-2-default-apps-section/

If people are going to set default apps to something that's not from Apple, then why shouldn't users also be able to remove those unused Apple apps?
Score: 30 Votes (Like | Disagree)
fwmireault Avatar
11 months ago
They don't have Apple Intelligence, but hey at least they can delete the camera app. Lucky them.
Score: 25 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProbablyDylan Avatar
11 months ago
I really can't wait for good photos app to get made for iOS.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bartmoss Avatar
11 months ago
This sums up the heights of European software innovation perfectly. ?
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)