Apple Is Introducing Something That Could Change How You Use Your iPhone Forever

Apple Is Introducing Something That Could Change How You Use Your iPhone Forever

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Don’t want Messages to be your iPhone’s default messaging app? It doesn’t have to anymore.

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iPhone 18.2 default apps

When Apple releases iOS 18.2 next month – probably in early December – it will introduce several new features that could change the way you use your iPhone.

You have undoubtedly seen the Apple Intelligence features – such as the integration of ChatGPT and Siri, as well as the ability to create images created by AI from text commands – which have been shown in every iPhone sales for the past several months.

But iOS 18.2 will also bring several well-publicized features, some of which promise to be very useful.

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iOS 18.2 gives you the new Default Apps menu in Settings. (Photo taken on iOS 18.2 public beta.) – Credit: Photo by Tucker Bowe of Gear Patrol

The other is Share Item Location, a feature that allows you to temporarily share a missing AirTag location with an airline or a trusted person – ie, a stranger – to help them find it.

More importantly, iOS 18.2 will let you switch from Apple’s default apps for calling and messaging for the first time. You will also be able to change the default settings for things like call filtering, passwords and keyboards.

You used to be able to switch away from Apple’s default apps for a few selected items. For example, when iOS 14 was released a few years ago, you could switch your iPhone’s default web browser and email apps away from Safari and Mail, respectively.

But this is a big change for anyone who wants to break out of Apple’s app ecosystem.

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For the first time, Apple lets you change your iPhone’s default messaging and phone apps. (Photo taken on iOS 18.2 public beta.) – Credit: Photo by Tucker Bowe of Gear Patrol

How to change your iPhone’s Default Apps

If your iPhone is running iOS 18.2, you can find a new Default Apps menu in the Settings app. You will be able to use this to easily change the default applications.

  2. Scroll down and select Programs.

  3. Select Default Apps at the top.

From here, you’ll be able to remotely switch from Apple’s default apps for email, messaging, calling, call filtering, browser apps, passwords, wallet and keyboard.

The public beta of iOS 18.2 is available now. The official release of iOS 18.2 is expected in early December.

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