To comply with new European regulations, Apple is making big changes to the way its iPhone operating system works.
The company is allowing alternative browser engines to work on iOS for the first time, although the change only applies to users in the European Union.
Since introducing the App Store, Apple has allowed the use of multiple browsers but has limited the browser engine to just one, WebKit.
WebKit supports Safari, although it's not the only engine available.
Chrome is based on an engine called Chromium, which is by far the dominant engine and is also used by Edge, Opera, Brave, Arc, and many other browsers.
Mozilla Firefox is based on its engine called Gecko.
Apple is forcing all iPhone browsers to use WebKit instead of its own engine, which means many features and extensions won't work.
With the introduction of iOS 17.4, Apple allows anyone to develop a browser or integrate a browser into an app using an engine other than WebKit if they wish.
“Every developer must obtain Apple’s permission to change engines and access features such as passwords and multiprocessing, after meeting certain criteria and a series of ongoing privacy and data protection measures,” the company said in a statement announcing the change. ".
The company has also added a new selection screen in Safari that lets you choose a different default browser when you first open it, if desired.
Apple appears to be doing this only because it is required by Europe's new Digital Markets Act, which, among other things, requires users to be allowed to uninstall pre-installed apps that would allow them to access Apple products and services. Companies such as Internet browsers.
Apple explained that it was not happy with the announcement of the new feature, saying: “This change is a result of the requirements of the Digital Markets Act and means that users in the European Union will face a list of default browsers before it is presented to them.” “Be available.” An opportunity to do so. Know their options. »
“The screen also disrupts EU users’ experience when they first open Safari to browse the web,” she added.