Apple users in the EU will be able to delete pre-installed apps like the App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos, and Safari from later this year, as the new Digital Markets Act has forced the US tech giant to make room for competitors.
The EU's Digital Markets Act (DMA), introduced last year, aims to ensure fair competition in the digital world. The new rules aim to regulate how large "gatekeeper" tech companies like Apple behave and prevent them from using their dominant position to squeeze out competitors.
In June, the European Commission found that Apple's App Store was in breach of the DMA as it did not allow rival app developers to steer potential customers to alternative content or offers outside of Apple's own store.
Apple has insisted that its "closed ecosystem", which makes it difficult for users to bypass its App Store, is for security reasons. The tech company maintains that if malicious outside programs were downloaded they could compromise user data confidentiality.
Numerous companies, such as Epic Games (Fortnite) and Spotify, have been challenging Apple's ecosystem for years, as the system requires app publishers to go through the App Store and pay a commission to Apple.
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In an update this week, Apple has confirmed that by the end of the year it will make changes to the browser choice screen, default apps, and app deletion for device users in the EU, to bring it in line with the DMA.
An update later this year will allow iOS and iPadOS users in the EU to delete the App Store, Messages, Camera, Photos and Safari apps. Only Settings and Phone will not be deletable.
There will also be a new Default Apps section in Apple device settings, where users will be able to choose their default browser, mail, app marketplace, and contactless apps, and set defaults for phone calls, messaging, password managers, keyboards, and call spam filters.
In spring next year, users will also be able to choose their default apps for navigation and translation.
