iOS 18.4 Adds a Highly-Requested Setting to iPhones — But Not in U.S.

iPhones are finally getting a much-requested setting, but availability is limited.

Apple Maps vs Google Maps Feature
The upcoming iOS 18.4 update introduces an option to set a default navigation app, other than Apple Maps, but unfortunately this new setting is limited to users in the EU. There, you can now set an app like Google Maps or Waze as your default navigation app on the iPhone by opening the Settings app and tapping Apps → Default Apps → Navigation.

Apple made this change in response to the EU's Digital Markets Act.

Apple, we would love to see this option made available worldwide.

Apple has at least made a small concession for U.S. users, allowing them to set a default translation app on iOS 18.4. For example, you can set Google Translate as your iPhone's default translation app, instead of Apple Translate.

iOS 18.4 is currently in beta testing. The update will be released to the general public in early April, according to Apple's website.

Related Roundups: iOS 18, iPadOS 18
Related Forums: iOS 18, iPadOS 18

Popular Stories

iOS 19 Mock WWDC25 Feature

iOS 19 Expected to Run on These iPhones

Monday March 31, 2025 5:28 pm PDT by
iOS 19 will not be available on the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, or the iPhone XS Max, according a private account on social media site X that has accurately provided information on device compatibility in the past. The iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max all have an A12 Bionic chip, so it looks like iOS 19 will discontinue support for that chip. All other iPhones that run iOS 18 are expected...
watchOS 11 Thumb 2 1

Apple Releases watchOS 11.4 With Sleep Alarm Update

Tuesday April 1, 2025 10:34 am PDT by
Apple today released watchOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the operating system that runs on the Apple Watch. watchOS 11.4 is compatible with the Apple Watch Series 6 and later, all Apple Watch Ultra models, and the Apple Watch SE 2. watchOS 11.4 can be downloaded on a connected iPhone by opening up the Apple Watch app and going to General > Software Update. To install the new software,...
AirPods Pro Firmware Feature

Apple Releases New Firmware for AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4

Monday March 31, 2025 11:27 am PDT by
Apple today released new firmware updates for all AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 2 models. The new firmware is version 7E93, up from the 7B21 firmware that was installed on the AirPods Pro 2 and the 7B20 firmware available on the AirPods 4 and AirPods 4 with ANC. It is not immediately clear what new features or changes are included in the new firmware, but we'll update this article should we find ...
maxresdefault

Apple Releases iOS 18.4 With Priority Notifications, Ambient Music, New Emoji and More

Monday March 31, 2025 10:03 am PDT by
Apple today released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4, the fourth major updates to the iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 operating system updates that came out last year. iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4 come two months after Apple released iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to...
iPhone 17 Pro 34ths Perspective

iPhone 17 Pro Launching Later This Year With These 10 New Features

Sunday March 23, 2025 10:00 am PDT by
While the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max are not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the devices. Below, we recap key changes rumored for the iPhone 17 Pro models as of March 2025: Aluminum frame: iPhone 17 Pro models are rumored to have an aluminum frame, whereas the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro models have a titanium frame, and the iPhone ...
Apple Card iPhone 16 Pro Feature

Visa and American Express Vying to Win Apple Card Deal in 'Fierce' Fight

Tuesday April 1, 2025 1:50 pm PDT by
Visa wants to pay Apple approximately $100 million to be the new payment network for the Apple Card, reports The Wall Street Journal. As of right now, the Apple Card is on the Mastercard payment network, but that is set to change because Apple is ending its partnership with Goldman Sachs. Both American Express and Visa are vying to replace Mastercard as Apple's card services provider, while...
iOS 18

Apple Seeds First Beta of iOS 18.5 to Developers

Wednesday April 2, 2025 10:11 am PDT by
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming just two days after Apple released iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4. iOS 18.5 and iPadOS 18.5 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software Update. We don't yet know what Apple is introducing in the iOS 18.5...

Top Rated Comments

zorinlynx Avatar
3 weeks ago
Can we please just not with the clickbaity headlines? That headline was just freaking terrible.

Why not just write, "iOS 8.4 adds the ability to choose your navigation app, but not in the US"
Score: 57 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Joe Rossignol Avatar
3 weeks ago

Can we please just not with the clickbaity headlines? That headline was just freaking terrible.

Why not just write, "iOS 8.4 adds the ability to choose your navigation app, but not in the US"
I understand your feedback, and I want to share my personal thoughts on this below. I do not speak on behalf of MacRumors as a whole.

I have seen many independent ad-supported news websites or blogs struggle in recent years, or even shut down. iMore, as one example within the Apple news sphere.

I think MacRumors provides excellent coverage of Apple news and rumors on a daily basis. I view the odd title like this one that might be more casual or withhold some details as a subsidy in a sense. These stories generally receive more views, which helps to support our organization and the many other quality stories we write with straightforward titles or more depth.

AnandTech shutting down is a sad example of how focusing 100% on quality alone isn’t always enough to stay afloat. They offered incredibly deep technical analysis.

The alternative solution that some sites like The Verge have turned to is a paywall, which is totally fine, but that also upsets some readers!

If you want MacRumors to exist for free for many years to come, like I do, then I hope you can see where I’m coming from. Still, thank you for voicing your totally valid feedback.

It’s also totally your right to simply disagree with me and/or thumbs-down this post, but I’m not sure that changes the reality of the situation for ad-supported web publications.
Score: 28 Votes (Like | Disagree)
iObama Avatar
3 weeks ago

iOS is now officially fractured.
Becoming less anti-competitive in the smallest way possible ≠ "officially fractured"
Score: 27 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ProbablyDylan Avatar
3 weeks ago

iOS is now officially fractured.
I'd like to remind the class that this is the choice Apple made. The EU only mandated that the option be there - Apple chose to limit it to the EU.
Score: 23 Votes (Like | Disagree)
apples_arrogance Avatar
3 weeks ago
Thank you EU - ?? ?
Score: 19 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bousozoku Avatar
3 weeks ago

iOS is now officially fractured.
Well, they could actually make the operating system more configurable, instead of fighting it. If they do it everywhere, with a few exceptions, they'll have less to fight.

They can still make money on equipment and software they produce.
Score: 15 Votes (Like | Disagree)