iOS 18.4 lets you set default iPhone apps in these new categories

Apple’s push to make the iPhone more customizable and personal has brought a new iOS 18.4 feature: now there are two new categories for setting default apps, depending on where you live.

Apple has offered some form of default app controls in the Settings app for years. But recently in iOS 18.2, the feature expanded with new categories and a dedicated hub.

Now in iOS 18.4, the category options are growing again.

Translation is a new category available in the US and abroad, letting you change the default from Apple’s Translate app to a third-party option like Google Translate.

And if you’re in the EU, you’ll see a second long-anticipated addition: Navigation.

It’s a shame that Navigation is restricted to EU users, but if you do happen to live in the EU you’ll be able to change your iPhone’s default from Apple Maps to another option, such as Google Maps.

Default app categories all work a bit differently, but generally speaking, your default app will be used by links and built-in OS tools you encounter system-wide for performing a certain function.

For example, if you change your Navigation default to Waze, tapping an address your friend sends you in an iMessage should open that location directly in your preferred app.

Default apps can be configured on your iPhone by opening Settings ⇾ Apps ⇾ Default Apps.

Do you plan to change default apps in iOS 18.4? Let us know in the comments.