Apple will also enable users in the EU to uninstall the Safari browser.
Apple is working on a solution that will make it easier to switch from an iPhone to an Android smartphone. The company has published a new document detailing the list of changes it has already made, such as adding support for alternative app marketplaces and allowing third-party browsers to run their browser engine to comply with the European Union’s (EU) Digital Marketing Act (DMA) which recently came into effect. It also shared its plans to add more interoperability features including uninstalling the Safari browser, transferring data between different browsers, and more.
In a 12-page document, Apple highlighted the progress it has made to comply with DMA. The tech giant also shared features it is currently working on. The most notable is the migration solution that will help users easily switch from an iPhone to an Android phone. The document stated, “Apple is developing a solution that helps mobile operating system providers develop more user-friendly solutions to transfer data from an iPhone to a non-Apple phone.” This feature will be available in the second half of 2025.
Another thing iPhone users will soon be able to do is fully uninstall the Safari browser. The tech giant has already allowed users to remove pre-installed apps from the Home Screen. “ Apple also plans to enable users to completely delete Safari from iOS, should they wish to do so. Apple aims to make this option available by the end of 2024.”
Notably, Apple’s Safari browser is powered by its native browser engine, WebKit. Third-party browsers available in the App Store are also required to use WebKit as the foundation for their apps, resulting in a similarity in appearance and functionality to Safari. This reliance on WebKit is one of the reasons why allowing users to uninstall Safari presents challenges for Apple, compared to other similar apps. As a result, implementing this feature has taken longer for the company.
Additionally, Apple is developing a browser-switching solution to address the inconvenience users face when transitioning to new browsers. This solution aims to facilitate the transfer of saved bookmarks, passwords, and site data to other browsers on the same device. Apple has stated that this feature will be available by the end of 2024 or the beginning of 2025.