Apple’s initiative to enhance iPhone customization and personalization has introduced a new feature in iOS 18.4: two fresh categories for setting default apps, depending on your location.
Translation default broadly available; Navigation limited to the EU
For years, Apple has provided some form of default app controls within the Settings app. However, this feature saw an expansion in iOS 18.2, introducing new categories and a dedicated section.
Now, with iOS 18.4, the selection of categories is increasing once more.
Translation is a newly added category available in both the US and globally, allowing users to change the default from Apple’s Translate app to a third-party solution like Google Translate.
If you’re located in the EU, there’s an additional, much-anticipated category: Navigation.
It is unfortunate that Navigation is only available to EU users. However, if you reside in the EU, you can change your iPhone’s default from Apple Maps to an alternative, such as Google Maps.
Each default app category functions a bit differently. Generally, your selected default app will be utilized by links and built-in OS tools system-wide when performing specific actions.
For instance, if you set your Navigation default to Waze, tapping an address shared by a friend through iMessage will directly open that location in your preferred app.
You can configure default apps on your iPhone by navigating to Settings ⇾ Apps ⇾ Default Apps.
In the United States, you will find these nine category options, with Navigation being the tenth for users in the EU:
- Messaging
- Calling
- Call Filtering
- Browser App
- Translation
- Passwords & Codes
- Contactless App
- Keyboards
Are you considering changing your default apps in iOS 18.4? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
