How to Change Default Apps on iPhone: Browser, Email, Calling and More

September 29, 2026

To change your default apps on an iPhone running iOS 18.2 or later, open the Settings App, tap Apps, select Default Apps at the top, and choose the category you want to modify.

Steps to Change Default Apps

Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
Scroll down and tap Apps.
Tap Default Apps at the top of the screen.
Select the category you want to change (such as Browser App, Email, or Calling).
Choose your preferred third-party app from the list.

Available Default Categories

You can customize several core system categories to replace built-in Apple options with your favorite third-party apps:

Browser App: Controls which app opens when you tap web links.
Email: Controls which app opens when you select mailto or send new emails.
Calling: Choose alternative apps for making and receiving phone calls.
Messaging: Change your default app for sending and receiving messages.
Call Filtering: Select a third-party app to identify and block spam calls.
Keyboards: Add or select alternative systemwide text-entry keyboards.
Contactless App: Assign a default app for NFC contactless transactions (in supported regions).

Apple says some categories, including Camera and Music, cannot be switched, and Maps has been limited in many regions. If a category is missing on your phone, it is not available for your country or iOS version.

Pro Tip

Set your default browser and email app first, then sign in to both before you tap any links. A browser that is not signed in still opens links, but you lose your saved passwords and tabs, and many people mistake that for the setting not working.

Core Default Categories (Global)

These categories are available globally to all users on modern iOS versions:

Browser App: Sets your default web browser (e.g., Safari, Chrome, Firefox, or Brave) to automatically open web links.
Email: Controls which mail client (e.g., Apple Mail, Gmail, or Outlook) opens when clicking mailto: links.
Messaging: Sets your primary application for sending and receiving text messages.
Calling: Changes your primary dialer and phone interface for making and receiving standard phone calls.
Call Filtering: Designates a third-party app (e.g., Truecaller or Hiya) to automatically identify and block incoming spam calls.
Passwords & Codes: Configures your default AutoFill managers for autofilling passwords, passkeys, and verification codes (e.g., Apple Passwords, 1Password, or Bitwarden).
Translation: Sets your default system application for processing instant text translations.
Contactless App: Configures your default application for NFC contactless tap-to-pay transactions at retail registers.
Keyboards: Dictates your preferred primary and secondary systemwide text-entry keyboards (e.g., Apple Keyboard, Gboard, or SwiftKey).

Region-Locked Categories (EU & Specific Markets)

Due to local digital market regulations, Apple unlocks extra customization options in specific regions:

Navigation (EU Only): Allows you to select your preferred global maps app (e.g., Google Maps or Waze) so that any address link systemwide bypasses Apple Maps automatically.
App Installation (EU Only): Manages your primary default source for updating and downloading software (e.g., alternative app marketplaces).

Which Default Apps Can You Change on iPhone?

The Default Apps screen groups everything by task. The exact list depends on your iOS version and your country or region, but these are the main categories:

Browser App: decides which browser opens when you tap a web link anywhere on your iPhone.
Email: decides which app opens when you tap an email address or choose to send by email.
Messaging: lets a supported messaging app handle message actions.
Calling: lets a supported calling app handle phone number taps.
Call Filtering: picks the app that identifies and blocks unwanted callers.
Passwords and Codes: picks the password manager that fills in logins and verification codes.
Keyboards: manages which keyboards are available when you type.

How to Change Your Default Browser on iPhone

Install the browser you want from the App Store, for example Chrome, Firefox or Edge.
Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
Tap Browser App.
Select your browser.

After this, links from Messages, Mail, QR codes, Siri and most other apps open in that browser. Your bookmarks, history and passwords stay inside each browser, so sign in to your account in the new one to bring them across.

If you are choosing a browser for privacy, remember that the browser you pick decides how much tracking is blocked. You can read how to stop apps tracking you and combine those settings with a privacy focused browser.

How to Change Your Default Email App on iPhone

Install your email app, such as Gmail or Outlook, and sign in to it once.
Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps.
Tap Email.
Choose your email app.

Now tapping an email address, or using the Share button to send by email, opens your chosen app with the address filled in. Apple’s own Mail app stays on the phone, but it stops being the one that opens.

How to Change Default Calling, Messaging and Password Apps

The steps are the same for every other category. Open Default Apps, tap the category and pick a compatible app from the list.

Calling: choose a supported calling app so phone number taps start a call there.
Call Filtering: choose the app that screens spam and scam calls.
Passwords and Codes: choose your password manager. In some cases you can turn on more than one and rank them.
Keyboards: add or reorder keyboards you want available.

After you choose a new default, iOS may show an extra prompt asking you to confirm or give the app permission. Follow it to finish the change.

Changing Default Apps on Older iOS Versions

The central Default Apps screen arrived in iOS 18.2. If your iPhone runs iOS 14 to iOS 18.1, the method is different:

Open Settings and scroll down to the browser or email app you installed.
Tap the app name.
Tap Default Browser App or Default Email App.
Select the app.

If you are not sure which iOS version you are on, open Settings > General > About. To see how iPhone software has changed across models, read the full iPhone history timeline.

Why Your Favourite App Is Not in the List

If an app does not appear under a category, try these fixes in order:

Update the app. Developers add support for default status in updates, so open the App Store and update it.
Open the app once. Some apps only register after you launch them and sign in.
Restart your iPhone. This refreshes the list of compatible apps.
Check your iOS version. Update in Settings > General > Software Update.
Contact the developer. Apple states that if an app does not offer default status, only the developer can add it.

Also note that some apps open links in their own built in browser, which ignores your default browser. Look for an option such as Open in Browser inside that app.

How to Reset Default Apps Back to Apple’s Apps

Go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps, open the category you changed and choose the Apple app again, such as Safari or Mail. Deleting the third party app also returns the default to Apple’s app automatically.

What Changing Default Apps Does Not Do

It does not delete any app or data.
It does not move your bookmarks, emails or passwords between apps.
It does not change what opens inside apps that use their own browser.
It does not change your network or printing settings. If printing behaves oddly after you switch browsers, use the Share menu and follow how to print from your iPhone.

If a change causes strange behaviour and nothing else fixes it, you can reset iPhone network settings, which clears connection problems without touching your apps or default choices.

Setting Up Rented iPhones for a Team

If you rent iPhones for staff at an event, a training day or a short project in the UAE, spend five minutes on defaults before you hand the phones out. Set the same browser, email app and password manager on each device so everyone opens links and messages in the tools your team already uses.

It saves support questions on the day and keeps work accounts in one place. When the rental ends, switch the defaults back and sign out of every account. To see what to expect from renting, read our guide to iPhone rental in Dubai, or compare renting versus buying iPhones for your budget. Contact our team to check which iPhone models are available for your dates.

Frequently Asked Questions About Default Apps on iPhone

Where are the default apps on iPhone?

Open Settings, tap Apps, then tap Default Apps at the top of the list. This screen needs iOS 18.2 or later. Older versions keep the option inside each app’s own settings page.

Can I change the default browser on iPhone from Safari to Chrome?

Yes. Install Chrome, go to Settings > Apps > Default Apps > Browser App and select Chrome. Links from most apps then open in Chrome instead of Safari.

Can I change the default Maps app on iPhone?

Apple lists Maps among the categories that are not available in Default Apps, though options can vary by region and iOS version. If you do not see Navigation on your phone, open your preferred maps app directly.

Why can’t I change default apps on my iPhone?

Your iPhone may be running an older iOS version, the app may not support default status yet, or the category is not available in your region. Update iOS and the app first, then check again.

Does changing the default browser delete Safari?

No. Safari stays on your iPhone. It simply stops being the app that opens links, and you can switch back at any time from the same settings page.

How do I set a default app on a work iPhone?

Work phones are often managed by a company profile that limits changes. If Default Apps looks locked, ask your IT team, because the restriction is set by your organisation.

Can I set default apps on a rented iPhone?

Yes, unless the rental provider says otherwise. A rented iPhone runs normal iOS, so you can set your browser and email app for the rental period, then switch back to Safari and Mail before returning it.