Apple has announced changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union. This change includes a new window that will surface when users first open Safari in iOS. The window will prompt EU users to choose a default browser from a list of options. This change is a result of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements and aims to provide users with more control over their browsing experience.
Changes to Safari
Apple will open browser restrictions to users in 27 EU member states in the upcoming iOS 17.4 update. After iPhone users in Europe upgrade to iOS 17.4, they will see a new window after opening the Safari browser. This window will remind them to change their default browsers should they desire to do so. Apple issued a follow-up email today stating that for iPhone users in EU member states.
iOS users already can set a third-party web browser as their default. However, the new window will make this process more prominent and user-friendly. The new window will list the 12 most popular web browsers in the App Store in their country. The list of browsers that can be set as a default varies slightly between countries. While some browsers are available in all EU countries, others are limited to specific countries.
Apple shared an alphabetical list of the browsers that will currently be available across the European Union. It is worth noting that this adjustment applies to the 27 countries in the EU. This no longer includes the UK, which will withdraw from the EU in 2020.
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We have the list of browsers that will pop up in four European countries. See the list below
- France: Aloha, Brave, Chrome, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Edge, Firefox, Onion Browser, Opera, Private Browser Deluxe, Qwant and Safari.
- Germany: Aloha, Brave, Chrome, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Edge, Firefox, Ivanti Web@Work, Onion Browser, Opera, Safari and You.com AI Search Assistant
- Italy: Aloha, Brave, Chrome, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Edge, Firefox, Ivanti Web@Work, Onion Browser, Opera, Safari and You.com AI Search Assistant
- Spain: Aloha, Brave, Chrome, DuckDuckGo, Ecosia, Edge, Firefox, Onion Browser, Opera, Safari, Vivaldi and You.com AI Search Assistant
Impact on User Experience
The new default browser prompt in Safari may interrupt EU users’ experience the first time they open Safari intending to use it as their default browser. This could potentially lead to users affirming Safari as their default browser just to avoid the choice screen, as they might find the process irritating or time-consuming.
Conclusion
Apple’s changes to iOS, Safari, and the App Store in the European Union aim to provide users with more control over their browsing experience and comply with the DMA’s requirements. The new window in Safari will prompt EU users to choose a default browser from a list of options. This could lead to users using a more diverse range of browsers and help them make broader decisions.
