Change your default apps for features on iPhone and iPad

You can change the default app for web browsing, email and more features on iPhone and iPad.

Change default apps on iPhone and iPad

Default Apps settings requires iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 or later.

  1. Go to Settings > Apps.

  2. Tap Default Apps at the top of the list of your apps.

  3. Tap a feature to change your default setting to a different app.

  4. After choosing a new default app, you may have to follow additional onscreen steps.

In some cases, only one app at a time can be the default app for a feature. In other cases, you’re able to prioritise the apps that your device uses for a feature. If you can’t see an option to set a particular app as the default for a feature, contact the app developer.

Default apps that can be changed

  • App Installation (in some countries and regions1) — choose an alternative app marketplace instead of the App Store to use as your default

  • Browser App — choose another app instead of the Safari app to use when opening links to web pages

  • Calling — choose another app instead of the Phone app or FaceTime app to make calls

  • Call Filtering — choose an app to use for presenting caller ID and blocking unwanted callers

  • Contactless Apps (iPhone only) (in some countries and regions2) — choose another app to make contactless transactions using your device’s built-in technology

  • Email — choose another app instead of the Mail app to use when opening links to send email

  • Keyboards — choose an app to use for text-entry capabilities systemwide

  • Messaging — choose another app instead of the Messages app to use when opening links to send instant messages

  • Passwords & Codes — choose another app instead of the Passwords app to use for Password AutoFill in Safari and other apps

About the web browser choice screen in the European Union

In countries or regions of the European Union on iOS 17.4 or iPadOS 18.2 or later, you may be prompted to choose a default browser from the web browser choice screen. If you want to change that setting later, follow the steps to change your default browser app.

1 Available in the European Union.

2 Available in the European Economic Area (European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States.

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