When it seemed like everything to do with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Apple was going to disappear… new changes are coming for the EU and Apple software. Remember that last year iOS and iPadOS underwent major changes to adapt to all the new legislation included in the MDA, focused above all on restricting antitrust policies. New changes will come in spring 2025 and the EU will force Apple to Open the default maps and navigation and translation apps. This means that from next year users They will be able to set Google Maps as their default navigation application.
Google Maps as default app: what’s new from EU, LMD and Apple
Much of the changes to the LMD focus on open the possibility for users to change default applications of most possible themes: calls, web browser, email, etc. In this way, the user will not only be able to define what their default applications are, but will also be able to delete native Apple applications. According to the EU, this expands user possibilities and limits monopoly against external developers and their applications.
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The reason Apple will only make App Store changes to the European Union
In a new document published by Apple on its website, it has been discovered that new changes will arrive in spring 2025 to comply with the MDL in the European Union. The message is slightly hidden but clear:
In spring 2025, Apple will add support for setting default settings for navigation and translation apps.
That’s to say, Default navigation, map and translation apps can be changed just like now, email, web browser or password manager application can be changed. This means, and hence the title, that we can make Google Maps the default app, which is what many users wanted after not using Apple Maps and being loyal Google Maps users. We are sure that More LMD-related changes coming in 2025 but they will arrive in trickles and Apple will fight with the EU for each of these changes in order to delay their implementation in iOS 18 and iPadOS 18.
