Whatsapp can be determined on iPhones as a standard for the first time

Apple opens important iOS presets for other apps: For the first time, users are now giving users the option of determining a non-applied app as a standard for messages and calls on their iPhone with WhatsApp. This functionality switches the youngest WhatsApp version 25.8.74 In iOS 18 free. Other messaging services can also support this, but have obviously not yet implemented it.

New EU rules force opening

At the pressure of the Digital Market Act and the EU Commission, Apple had to integrate a far-reaching setting dialog for standard apps in order to grant users significantly more options here. With e-mail clients and browsers, the standard apps have been determined for a long time, with iOS 18.2, “news” or messaging and calls were followed as categories. With iOS 18.4 there are also navigation and translation, but the latter two apparently purely within the EU.

With the significantly expanded settings for standard apps, Apple reacted to an investigation by the EU Commission that tested possible violations with regard to the Digital Markets Act-including a prohibited preference for our own, pre-installed apps from the manufacturer. The Commission seems to be satisfied with these changes, observers expect that at least no punishment will be imposed here – but possibly in others.

Siri ignores other standard apps

Apps must support this new freedom in each case so that they ultimately appear at the corresponding point in iOS (settings> Apps> Standard apps). In practice, however, relatively little changes: The standard apps for messages are activated by tapping in: and SMS: URLs from other apps, for telephony this applies to Tel: URLS. Apple's voice assistance system Siri seems to ignore the change in standard apps. It continues to focus on its own, hidden system, with which the user can switch between different messaging services for individual recipients.