I am personally not a huge fan of Apple's Safari browser or the default email and password manager app that comes installed on my iPhone. That is why I always change these default apps on my iPhone to the ones I am more comfortable with, like Gmail, Chrome and 1Password. But many users don't know how to do the same. So, if you want to learn how to do the same, here's how to change the default apps on iPhone with step-by-step instructions.
How to Change Default Apps on iPhone
With the iOS 18 update, Apple added a dedicated section in Settings to let users change their default apps on iPhone. It lets you change several system apps from one place, making it easier to customise your iOS experience. I have been using the same method on my iPhone 13 and my iPhone Air for years now, and let me show you how to do the same on your device.
Change Default Browser on iPhone
If Safari isn't your ideal web browser, and you prefer something like Google Chrome or Firefox, then here's how you can change the default browser app on your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps > Default Apps.
- Here, tap on Browser App and select the browser you want to use from the list of installed options.
Doing so will let you open any link in the newly selected browser on your iPhone instead of opening it in Safari by default.
Change Default Email App on iPhone
Apple Mail is a good email client, but my entire workflow sits in Gmail, which is why I have set it as my default email app on iPhone. Here's how you can do it too:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps.
- Here, go to Default Apps and tap on Email.
- Select your preferred email app from the list.
After this, tapping any mailto link across iOS will open a new compose window in the chosen app rather than Apple Mail.
Change Default Messaging App on iPhone
You can also change the default messaging apps on your Apple iPhones to other third-party apps like WhatsApp, Telegram, Signal or Beeper.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps > Default Apps.
- Tap on Messaging.
- Select your preferred messaging app from the list.
Change Default Calling App on iPhone
In case you use apps like WhatsApp more often than the default Phone app for making calls, you can set it as the default calling app on your iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps.
- Next, select Default Apps.
- Here, tap on Calling and select your preferred calling app from the list.
Change the Call Filtering App on iPhone
iOS also lets me change the default call filtering app to any third-party app installed on my iPhone. I personally use Truecaller to block spam calls, but you can do the same with any other app.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps > Default Apps.
- Head over to Call Filtering and turn on the toggle for any call filtering apps you have installed.
Unlike other categories where only one app can be selected, call filtering allows multiple apps to be enabled simultaneously.
Change the Default Passwords App on iPhone
I use 1Password as my default password manager on my iPhone. This allows me to use 1Password whenever I am trying to log in to any app or service. If you have a preferred password management app like Bitwarden or Dashlane, then here's how you can set it as the default app on iPhone.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps.
- Here, tap on Default Apps.
- Now, select Passwords & Codes and turn on the toggles for the password manager apps you want to use.
- You can also tap on Set Up Codes In and select your choice of passwords app.
How to Change Contactless App on iPhone
Those of you who make contactless payments with NFC can also pick a default contactless app on your iPhone. This will set a certain app like Google Wallet as the default option for contactless verification or payments. To change it:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps > Default Apps.
- Then, tap Contactless Apps.
- Select the app you want to handle contactless transactions.
This setting works on all iPhones running iOS 18 or higher, including older models like the iPhone X, iPhone 11, iPhone 12 and newer models.
Change the Default Keyboard on iPhone
I have spent a year with the default keyboard app on iPhone and have never enjoyed typing on it. Thankfully, Apple lets you switch to a different keyboard app like Gboard on iPhone or SwiftKey to make the typing experience a little better. Here is how you can do it.
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone and go to Apps > Default Apps.
- Here, tap on Keyboards.
- Tap Add New Keyboard and select the keyboard or language you want to use.
- To set it as the primary keyboard, tap Edit and drag it to the top of the list.
- Then tap on the blue checkmark at the top to save changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. Do you need to delete Apple's apps to change defaults?
No. Apple's built-in apps like Safari and Mail remain installed after changing defaults and can still be opened manually at any time.
Q. Why are some apps not showing in the Default Apps list on iPhone?
Not all apps have the capability to be set as a system default. This needs to be enabled and added by the app's developer, and if it does not support it, it will not let you set it as a default app on iPhone.
Q. Does changing the default browser affect Safari?
No. Safari remains fully functional and can be opened directly at any time. Changing the default browser only affects what opens when a link is tapped from outside a browser, such as in an email or message.
Q. Can default apps be changed back to Apple's apps?
Yes. Go back to Settings > Apps > Default Apps, select the category, and select the Apple stock app from the list.
That is everything we have on how to change the default app on your iPhone. While typically, Apple keeps a strict walled garden around the iOS and the iPhone experience, the fact that it lets you choose certain default apps is a welcome addition for my iPhone users who don't particularly like Apple's version of the apps and prefer to use something else instead.
