Apple may escape big fine after iPhone browser selection screen changes

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The European Union appears to be ruling that the alternative browser selection on iPhone is adequate, and Apple may not be fined under the Digital Markets Act.

Safari logo surrounded by twelve yellow stars, alongside icons for Messages, Photos, and Camera apps on a blue background.
As well as updating default browser choices, EU users will have more control over default apps such as Messages, Photos, and Camera



The investigation into browser choice on iPhone and iPad that started in March 2024 may be coming to a close soon. According to a report by Reuters on Tuesday morning, the investigation is expected to close the week of March 31, with Apple not being fined.

Apple implemented browser choice in January 2024, expecting European regulation. However, how Apple implemented the change was found lacking, as it promoted Safari above other options.

Developers of alternative browsers still found reason to complain.

In response to the EU's Digital Markets Act investigation, which also led to third-party App Stores, Apple increased the options it gave users over default apps in iOS 18.

As it stands now, the first time a user opens Safari on their iPhone or iPad, they will be shown a list of the most popular browsers in their region, and can select any of them. Also as before, the list will be presented in a random order, and will not favor Safari.

What's was changed is that as well as the title of the browser, Apple's list now shows the app's subtitle from the App Store. Plus instead of having to tap to go into a browser listing and select it there, selection is now a tap on that first list.

However, the user will have to scroll through the whole list before they can make their selection.

Assuming that they do not choose Safari, once they have made their selection, Apple will download the new browser if it isn't already installed. Users will see the download progress right in the list of default browsers, and when installed, it will open.

Plus, if Safari is currently in either the Dock or the first page of the user's home screen, it will be automatically replaced by their new choice.



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Comments

  • Reply 1 of 4
    mbenz1962mbenz1962 Posts: 175member
    I saw this for the first time yesterday.  I guess this choice screen is activated based on the region selected and not picking something up from the previous set up.  I just bought a new iPhone and transferred all of my settings from the old iPhone to the new one.  I then set up my old iPhone for my daughter and transferred my daughter's settings from her old one to the new one. In neither process did the iPhones present us this choice, even though we physically reside in Germany (The store and the region we use is the US though). 
    My daughter's old phone was reset and a couple of days later transferred to a friend of ours who is German and her old iPhone SE was set to the German region.  I was presented this screen as part of the onbording process. So it seems even if your old phone was set to an EU country where you have already presumably made a choice for browser, you are presented this screen again if your region is set to an EU country.
    watto_cobra
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  • Reply 2 of 4
    ihatescreennamesihatescreennames Posts: 2,003member
    I read somewhere a few months ago that if you choose Safari you have to choose it again after every OS update, but if you choose a different browser that one will persist after an OS update. Safari is the only choice that will require you to choose it over and over via the browser selection screen. I haven’t experienced that myself as I’m not in the EU. 

    Another thing I don’t fully understand is why this is necessary when, from what I understand, Chrome has a much higher browser percentage than Safari does. Seems odd to force the choice screen when users obviously already know they have options. 
    williamlondonfreeassociate2watto_cobra
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  • Reply 3 of 4
    beowulfschmidtbeowulfschmidt Posts: 2,400member
    ihatescreennames said:
    I read somewhere a few months ago that if you choose Safari you have to choose it again after every OS update, but if you choose a different browser that one will persist after an OS update. Safari is the only choice that will require you to choose it over and over via the browser selection screen. I haven’t experienced that myself as I’m not in the EU. 

    Another thing I don’t fully understand is why this is necessary when, from what I understand, Chrome has a much higher browser percentage than Safari does. Seems odd to force the choice screen when users obviously already know they have options. 

    It's necessary because it's Apple, and Apple MUST be made to obey.
    williamlondonwatto_cobra
     1Like 1Dislike 0Informatives
  • Reply 4 of 4
    freeassociate2freeassociate2 Posts: 231member
    ihatescreennames said:
    I read somewhere a few months ago that if you choose Safari you have to choose it again after every OS update, but if you choose a different browser that one will persist after an OS update. Safari is the only choice that will require you to choose it over and over via the browser selection screen. I haven’t experienced that myself as I’m not in the EU. 

    Another thing I don’t fully understand is why this is necessary when, from what I understand, Chrome has a much higher browser percentage than Safari does. Seems odd to force the choice screen when users obviously already know they have options. 
    Not to mention that they re-litigated the browser issues from the ‘90s when Intertubes Exploder had something like 80%+ market share. I mean seriously, what person in 2025 doesn’t know that they can load another browser? There’s a billion of them … just they’re all really Chrome underneath. (But suuuuure attack Apple over … WebKit? FFS.)
    watto_cobra
     1Like 0Dislikes 0Informatives
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