Apple Further Explains iOS 17.4's New Default Browser Prompt in EU

After updating to iOS 17.4, which is currently in beta, iPhone users in the EU will be prompted to choose a default web browser when they first open Safari. In an email today, Apple shared additional details about how this process will work.

Apple EU iOS Changes
Apple said iPhone users in the EU will be presented with a list of the 12 most popular web browsers from their country's local App Store at the time, and noted that the options will be shown in random order for every user.

Apple shared an alphabetical list of the browsers that will currently be shown in every EU country. It is a very long list, so we have elected to highlight browsers that will be shown in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain as examples.

  • 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

There are 23 other countries in the EU that this change applies to. Notably, this no longer includes the UK, which withdrew from the EU in 2020.

It has already been possible to change an iPhone's default web browser through the Settings app since iOS 14. Apple has now gone a step further and added the default browser prompt in Safari to comply with new regulations under the EU's Digital Markets Act.

In the EU, iOS 17.4 also allows web browsers to use web engines other than Apple's WebKit.

Apple said iOS 17.4 will be released to the public in March.

Related Forums: iOS 17, iPadOS 17

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Top Rated Comments

jhwalker Avatar
16 months ago

how petty... they know safari would be further down than chrome if it was alphabetical so they make it random...
If they HAD put it in alphabetical order, they would be accused of favoring browsers at the top of the alphabet more than others ?‍♂️
Score: 16 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iOS Geek Avatar
16 months ago

how petty... they know safari would be further down than chrome if it was alphabetical so they make it random...
Petty? Why? If it's not randomized, the crybabies in the EU will probably whine about favoritism. Sure, alphabetical makes sense. But I can hear it now! "Customers have to scroll down to find and select Vivaldi! And it's below Safari! That's not fair! They should be able to select it as easily as Aloha, without having to scroll!"
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
vegetassj4 Avatar
16 months ago
Choosing a browser when you have more than one citizenship?



Attachment Image
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ghostface147 Avatar
16 months ago

This is funny, because all are in fact the same browser underneath, Safari :D
Not anymore. They can all bring their own engines now. No more relying on WebKit.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
till Avatar
16 months ago
The randomization is required by law. I'm not sure why the number is as high as 12, which is probably going to include a lot of garbage even after real browser engines are allowed.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
antiprotest Avatar
16 months ago
Eventually it's going to be like filling in that doctor's questionnaire every time you start your phone, open an app, visit a web site, send a text, make a phone call.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)