set safari as default browser on ipad

You can now change the default web browser on your iPad to your favorite browser's app — here's how to do it

• To change the default internet browser on your iPad, you'll need to download a compatible app and then open its settings.
• You can change the default browser on an iPad running iPadOS 14 from Safari to Chrome, Firefox, or Edge.
• Once you change the default browser, any app that tries to open the internet will use your iPad's new browser.

There have been third-party internet browser apps on the iPad for years, but they've never been able to serve as your default browser. That is, until iPadOS 14.

The new iPadOS 14 update now lets you change the default web browser from Apple's Safari to a third-party browser. If you'd prefer Chrome to start automatically when you tap a web link, for example, you can now set that up in Settings. 

Here's how.

How to change the default browser on your iPad

Before anything else, make sure you've downloaded the browser app you want to use. As of this writing, iPadOS supports Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.

1. Open your iPad's Settings app. 

2. Scroll down to the list of apps installed on your iPad , and tap any third-party browser that you've installed.

3. In the app settings on the right side of the screen, tap "Default Browser App."

4. You should see a list of all the installed browsers. Tap the browser you want to make the default, so a checkmark appears next to it. 

What to do if you don't see the browser you want to make the default

In order to change your default browser, your iPad needs to be running iPadOS 14 or higher. Check your iOS version by starting the Settings app and tapping "General," then "Software Update." Update your iPad if needed.

If you're still having trouble, make sure the browser is actually installed — be sure you can find it on your home screen and open it. 

If you're sure it's installed, it's possible that it's not yet compatible with this new feature. Right now, you can choose between Chrome, Firefox, and Edge. 

If you want to use another browser, check back later — it might be added.

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• Main content

Tips & Tricks

Troubleshooting, how to change default web browser on iphone & ipad.

Ever wanted to change your default web browser on iPhone from Safari to something like Chrome or Firefox? Perhaps you use another popular third-party browser like Chrome, Firefox, or Opera to browse the web instead on your other devices, and you want to keep consistent. Whatever the case, you’ll be pleased to know that you can now change the default web browser on your iPhone and iPad.

Safari has always been the default web browser on iPhones and iPads, and up until now there was no way you could change that, though you could always install other browsers and launch them manually. But Apple has had a change of heart, as they now allow users to set third-party web browsers as default apps on the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This feature was introduced as a part of the new iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 software updates, so if you’re not up to date, you’ll want to make sure you’re running the latest software to have this capability available to you.

Interested in learning how you can use this change to your advantage on your device? Then read on, you’ll be changing your default web browser in no time at all on iPhone or iPad.

Before you go ahead with the procedure, you’ll need to check if your iPhone or iPad is running iOS 14/iPadOS 14 or later since this feature isn’t available on older versions. More importantly, you’ll also need to update to the latest version of the browser you’re using from the App Store. Once you’re done with that, let’s get started with the steps.

Now you know how easy it is to change the default web browser on your iPhone and iPad.

Prior to the iOS 14 update, clicking on any web link in an app would open the page in Safari rather than the browser you regularly use. The only way around this was to manually copy/paste the link in your preferred web browser, or to use a “Send to Chrome” or “Send to Firefox” shortcut. Thankfully, this should no longer be an issue.

If you were unable to find the default browser option in your browser settings, chances are, your browser hasn’t been updated to support this feature or you’re running on an older version of iOS or iPadOS. So, try to update both the apps and system software, and you should gain this capability.

It’s important to note that not all third-party browsers may support this feature at the moment. This is because developers need to first update their respective apps to be able to support this new feature. This is a feature that most iOS users were longing for, so it’s great to see Apple finally listening to its customers.

Apart from third-party web browsers, Apple also allows you to set third-party email apps as the default mail client on your iPhone and iPad. That’s right, you no longer have to link your email account to the stock Mail app and use a third-party client like Gmail as the default app instead. Once you change this, clicking on email addresses within apps will launch the default mail app on your iPhone.

Do you use a Mac as your primary computer? If so, you may also be interested in learning how you can change the default web browser on the Mac  to Chrome, Firefox, or any other third-party browser on there too.

Now that you’ve set your preferred web browser as the default browser app on your iPhone and iPad, you’re free to click links elsewhere in iOS and ipadOS and the browser of your choice will launch instead of Safari. Which browser do you use to surf the web on your iPhone or iPad, and why? Share your experiences, opinions, and insights in the comments.

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Related articles:

• Change the Default Web Browser in Mac OS X
• How to Change Default Apps on Mac
• How to Set Firefox as Default Browser on iPhone & iPad
• How to Change Default Browser on Mac

» Comments RSS Feed

I can’t tell if this tip is designed to change the browser on the device the change is made or will effect all my devices running iOS 14. Google can kiss my a## if IT thinks it can force me to use it’s browser on apps that won’t force their reports download tech company they are using to allow me to download my info unless I use Chrome or Foxfire. If I can only change it one device and not all my devices I might consider it.

This will only change the default web browser on the device that you make the change on.

Can the browser be set selectively. ie, I like using Safari for most things, but use Chrome regularly for others, especially for streaming and casting.

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How to change the default web browser on iPhone and iPad

Although Apple’s Safari is the default browser on iPhone and iPad, you have the option to choose a third-party browser. If you’d like to use a web browser other than Safari, such as Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Brave, etc., as the default on your iPhone or iPad, we will guide you through the steps to make the switch.

Before you begin

• Make sure your iPhone or iPad is on a recent version of iOS.
• Install the third-party web browser app on your device and open it once to finish the initial setup. Here are the links for some of the most popular iOS browsers: Chrome , Firefox , Edge , Opera , Brave , DuckDuckGo , and Aloha .

Set Chrome, Firefox, or another app as the default web browser on iPhone and iPad

• Open the Settings app.
• Scroll down towards the end and tap a third-party browser name.
• Tap Default Browser App .
• Select Chrome , Firefox , Edge , or any installed third-party app as your default web browser.

That’s all. From now on, tapping a link in any iPhone or iPad app, such as Mail, Spark, Instagram, and so forth, will launch the selected third-party web browser instead of Apple’s Safari.

Note: Your newly selected default web browser choice has no bearing on the embedded Safari View Controller in certain apps that use it, including Twitter, Reeder, and Slack. For instance, tapping a link in Twitter for iOS opens an embedded Safari web view within the app, regardless of the default web browser. That said, you can tap the Safari icon in any embedded Safari Web Controller view if you’d like to open the link externally, which would open in the default web browser you set.

Related: How to open Safari links in Chrome on iPhone and iPad

Go back to using Safari as the default web browser

Method 1: Follow the above steps and choose Safari in step 4.

Method 2: Delete the app , which is your current web browser, and iOS will immediately revert back to using Safari as the default browser.

On the same note:

• Apple publishes developer guidelines for setting default email and browser apps
• How to change the default email app on iPhone and iPad
• Quick ways to change the default web browser on Mac

How Do I Make Safari My Default Browser

• How-To Guides
• Tech Setup & Troubleshooting

Introduction

Are you tired of your current default browser and looking for a change? Safari, with its sleek design and seamless performance, might just be the perfect choice for you. Whether you’re using a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, setting Safari as your default browser is a simple process that can greatly enhance your browsing experience.

In this article, we will guide you through the steps to make Safari your default browser on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS . By the end, you’ll be enjoying the fast and user-friendly features of Safari without any hassle. So, let’s dive in!

Safari is Apple’s native web browser, known for its speed, security, and compatibility with Apple devices. With a clean interface and advanced features like content-blocking extensions and seamless integration with iCloud, Safari offers a superior browsing experience for Apple users.

Whether you’re a long-time Mac user, a proud owner of an iPhone, or a fan of the iPad, using Safari as your default browser can significantly improve your browsing speed and overall satisfaction. By setting Safari as your default browser, you’ll enjoy a seamless browsing experience as links from other apps will automatically open in Safari.

Now, let’s get started and learn how to make Safari your default browser on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS!

Step 1: Open Safari Preferences

The first step to making Safari your default browser is to open Safari Preferences . This will allow you to customize various settings and ensure that Safari is set as your default browser.

Here’s how you can open Safari Preferences:

• Launch Safari on your device. You can find it in the Applications folder on macOS, or on your home screen on iOS and iPadOS.
• In the menu bar at the top of the screen, click on “Safari” for macOS or tap on the “Settings” app icon on iOS and iPadOS.
• A dropdown menu will appear. From the options provided, select “Preferences” for macOS, or scroll down and tap on “Safari” for iOS and iPadOS.

Once you’ve opened Safari Preferences, you’re ready to proceed to the next step of setting Safari as your default browser.

Note: The menu options may vary slightly depending on the version of macOS, iOS, or iPadOS you are using. However, the overall steps to access Safari Preferences will remain the same.

Step 2: Set Safari as Default Browser on macOS

Setting Safari as your default browser on macOS is a straightforward process. Here’s how you can do it:

• Open Safari Preferences as mentioned in Step 1.
• Click on the “General” tab at the top of the Preferences window.
• In the “Default web browser” section, you will see a drop-down menu labeled “Default web browser”. Click on the menu to reveal a list of available browsers.
• From the list, select “Safari” to set it as your default browser.

Once you have selected Safari as your default browser, any links you click on in other applications will open directly in Safari.

Additionally, you have the option to customize advanced settings in Safari Preferences. You can configure preferences related to privacy, extensions, downloads, and more, according to your preferences.

With Safari set as your default browser, you can enjoy the seamless integration of Safari with other macOS features. Safari supports features like Handoff, which allows you to start browsing on one Apple device and quickly continue on another.

Now that you have successfully set Safari as your default browser on macOS, let’s move on to the next step and learn how to do the same on iOS.

Step 3: Set Safari as Default Browser on iOS

Setting Safari as your default browser on iOS devices is a breeze. Follow these simple steps to make Safari your default browser:

• Open the “Settings” app on your iOS device. You can find it on your home screen.
• Scroll down and tap on “Safari” in the list of available settings.
• On the Safari settings screen, locate the “Default Browser App” option.
• Tap on “Default Browser App” to open a list of available browsers.
• Select “Safari” from the list to set it as your default browser.

Once you have set Safari as your default browser on iOS, all clickable links from other apps will automatically open in Safari.

Not only does Safari offer a smooth and seamless browsing experience on iOS, but it also provides features like Safari Reader, Intelligent Tracking Prevention, and the ability to sync bookmarks and browsing history across your Apple devices via iCloud.

With Safari as your default browser, you’ll enjoy faster browsing speeds, enhanced privacy features, and the convenience of accessing your bookmarks and saved passwords across multiple devices.

Now that you’ve successfully set Safari as the default browser on your iOS device, let’s move on to the final step and learn how to do it on iPadOS.

Step 4: Set Safari as Default Browser on iPadOS

Setting Safari as your default browser on iPadOS is similar to setting it on iOS. Follow these steps to make Safari your default browser on your iPad:

• Open the “Settings” app on your iPad. You can find it on your home screen.
• Scroll down and tap on “Safari” in the list of settings.

After setting Safari as your default browser on iPadOS, any links that you click on in other apps will automatically open in Safari.

Safari on iPadOS offers a seamless browsing experience with features like Split View, Slide Over, and the ability to open multiple tabs side by side. You can also use Apple Pencil to draw and make annotations directly on web pages.

With Safari as your default browser, you’ll benefit from its excellent performance, robust security features, and optimized browsing experience designed specifically for iPad.

Now that you’ve successfully set Safari as your default browser on iPadOS, you’re ready to explore the web with ease and take full advantage of Safari’s features.

Setting Safari as your default browser on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS is a simple process that can greatly enhance your browsing experience. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can seamlessly integrate Safari into your daily web activities and take advantage of its powerful features.

Safari, Apple’s native web browser, offers a smooth and user-friendly experience across all Apple devices. With its speed, security, and seamless integration with other Apple features, Safari is an excellent choice for users seeking a reliable and efficient browsing solution.

By setting Safari as your default browser, you’ll enjoy the convenience of opening clickable links from other apps directly in Safari. This streamlined experience saves time and ensures a consistent browsing experience across all your devices.

Whether you’re using Safari on macOS, iOS, or iPadOS, you’ll benefit from its advanced features such as content-blocking extensions, Handoff, Safari Reader, and iCloud integration. These features enhance your privacy, boost productivity, and give you greater control over your browsing experience.

Now that you have learned how to set Safari as your default browser on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, why wait? Take the next step and make Safari your go-to browser for a seamless and enjoyable web browsing experience.

Embrace the speed, reliability, and user-friendly features of Safari, and discover the wonders of the internet with your new default browser.

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iOS 17: How to Set a Default Browser Other Than Safari

The iOS 17 update makes it easier for users to change their default browser. Apple is seemingly encouraging users to try other browsers. Although this change is currently exclusive to those from EU countries, it could become a permanent feature once newer public iOS versions are available.

How to Set a Default Browser Other Than Safari in iOS 17

Time needed:  2 minutes

Apple will automatically show a choice screen the first time you open Safari after upgrading to iOS 17. The pop-up displays the most popular browsers in your region. Here’s how to change your default browser engine through it:

In an email to the Apple Developer Program members, Apple shared which web browsers it will display to EU users. The list included:

• Aloha Browser
• Brave Browser
• Microsoft Edge
• Mozilla Firefox
• Onion Browser
• Opera Touch
• Private Browser Deluxe
• Vivaldi Browser
• You.com AI Search Assistant

Apple’s letting other web browser engines in as well. So browsers like Chrome won’t be stuck using just the WebKit engine.

Can We Change the Default Browser in Other iOS Versions?

I want to clarify that iPhone users have been able to change their default browser settings since iOS 14 launched in 2020 .

Apple made this change in compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) requirements in the European Union (EU). Users outside its regions won’t see this pop-up yet. But don’t fret too much because nothing changed in terms of functionality—it’s merely a mandatory pop-up for fair trade compliance. You can still explore the best alternatives to Safari .

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How to Reset Safari to Default Settings

Restoring default settings is a multistep process

What to Know

• First, remove the browser history: Select Safari in the menu bar > Clear History , then select All History > Clear History . 
• Remove cookies: Safari > Preferences . Select the Privacy tab > Manage Website Data > Remove All .
• Clear cache: Safari > Preferences . Advanced > Select Show Develop menu in menu bar . Exit. Develop > Empty Caches .

This article explains how to reset Safari to default settings by removing Safari's history and cookies, clearing the cache, and disabling extensions. Instructions apply to Safari versions 11 through 14 and iOS.

Remove Browser History

The first step when resetting Safari is to remove your browser history. When you clear your browsing history, Safari removes data such as recent searches, the frequently visited site list, web page icons, the history of web pages you've visited, and more.

From Safari's menu bar, select Safari > Clear History

In the drop-down menu, select All History .

Select Clear History to complete the process.

To clear a particular website instead, navigate to History > Show History , select the website you want to clear, and press Delete .

Remove Cookies

When you remove all cookies from Safari, you'll lose personal registration data such as your name and address, shopping cart contents, preferred web page layouts, and more.

From Safari's menu bar, select Safari > Preferences .

Select the Privacy tab.

Select Manage Website Data .

Select Remove All .

Select Remove Now .

Select Done .

Clear Safari's Cache

When you clear Safari's cache, you're removing stored website data.

Select the Advanced tab.

Place a check next to Show Develop menu in menu bar , and then exit out of Preferences.

From Safari's menu bar, select Develop > Empty Caches .

Disable or Uninstall Extensions

Safari extensions are like mini-apps that add functionality to the browser. If you're trying to reset Safari, you'll want to disable or uninstall any extensions.

Select the Extensions tab.

Select an extension, and then deselect the checkbox next to the extension to disable it.

Many extensions have several sub-extensions, so you'll need to uncheck all of them.

After you've disabled an extension, you can uninstall it. Select Uninstall .

You'll see a message that the extension is part of an application, and that you'll need to remove the application. Select Show in Finder .

Finder will open with the app selected. Right-click on the application and select Move to Trash .

Enter your password and select OK . You've deleted the extension.

Clear Website Data on Safari for iOS

To clear Safari's settings on an iPhone or iPad:

Open the iOS device's Settings app.

Scroll down and select Safari .

Under Privacy & Security , select Clear History and Website Data .

Select Clear History and Data to confirm.

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How-To Geek

How to make microsoft edge the default browser on iphone or ipad.

Microsoft Edge is gaining popularity, and it's available on your iPhone.

The iPhone and iPad come with Apple's own Safari web browser. Microsoft Edge is also available for these devices, and you can even set it to be the default browser. We'll show you how to do it.

Apple introduced a default browser selection feature in  iOS 14  and  iPadOS 14 . When you set a third-party browser as the default, the operating system will always use it for browser-related tasks, like opening a link from an email.

Related: How to Sync Microsoft Edge Tabs Across Devices

If you're already a Microsoft Edge user on your Windows PC or Mac, it makes sense to use it on your iPhone or iPad, too. Before proceeding, make sure that you have Microsoft Edge installed on your  iPhone or  iPad .

We can begin by opening the "Settings" app on your iPhone or iPad. Swipe down on your device's home screen to use Spotlight search if you can't find the app icon.

Next, scroll all the way down to the bottom section and find "Edge."

Select "Default Browser App" from the Edge settings.

Choose "Edge" from the list of browsers.

You can now tap the back arrow and exit the Settings menu. From now on, Microsoft Edge will automatically be used for links and other browser-related actions on your iPhone or iPad, which is great if you're already using Edge on your other devices.

AAPL Company

Iphone web browser choice gets one thing right, two things wrong, say developers.

Being prompted to make an iPhone web browser choice in Europe has seen an uptick in the use of third-party apps , but not everyone is happy about it.

The EU itself is investigating whether Apple’s implementation of the antitrust requirement goes far enough, and developers of third-party browsers say the process gets one thing right, and two things wrong …

iPhone web browser choice

While iPhone owners have been theoretically able to choose their preferred web browser since iOS 14, it wasn’t much of a choice, for a couple of reasons.

First, most people didn’t even know they could choose an alternative browser. The default is Safari, and you’d have to proactively install a third-party one and then manually set it as your default.

Second, Apple insisted that all browsers had to use its own WebKit API. That ensured that competing browsers couldn’t do anything to impact security of privacy, but it also meant that they couldn’t offer faster speeds, or features not available in Safari.

The EU required Apple to drop the WebKit requirement, and also to proactively present users with a choice of browser when they first use their device. These changes were introduced in iOS 17.4 , and only apply within EU countries.

Apple gets one thing right

Developers of third-party web browsers have seen an increase in usage following the implementation of the changes, and they say Apple did play fair in one important respect: browsers are listed in random order, and Safari doesn’t get any special position or prominence in the list.

But two things remain unfair, they say

Wired spoke to a number of developers of alternative iPhone web browsers, and found that they had two criticisms.

First, iPhone owners are not asked to make their choice during the initial iPhone setup process. Instead, they are only presented with the choice when they first open the Safari app. This means that Safari has already presented itself as the default.

“It starts from you clicking Safari,” says Jon von Tetzchner, CEO and cofounder of Vivaldi. “Which, I think all of us agree, that’s the wrong spot.” Tetzchner said he prefers Google’s implementation of its new browser choice screen that guides Android users to select a default while setting up their phone.

Second, users are given zero information about each browser – just a list of names, many of which will be unfamiliar to non-techy users. That reinforces the idea that they should select Safari unless they already know a reason to make a different choice.

“Giving people information about the choice, and also information about what they’re choosing is really, really important,” says Kush Amlani, a global competition and regulatory counsel at Mozilla, which makes the Firefox browser.

A fairer option would be to give each developer a few words to pitch their browser. DuckDuckGo, for example, might have something like “Uses our privacy-first search engine, which doesn’t track you or filter your results.”

We’ll need to wait for the EU’s conclusion to determine what changes might be needed to comply with the law.

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Your Guide to Private Browsing in Safari

Private browsing is often misunderstood, but it can be a helpful feature if you know what’s what.

Quick Links

What private browsing does in safari, how to use safari private browsing on iphone and ipad, how to use safari private browsing on a mac, how to disable safari private browsing on iphone and ipad, how to disable safari private browsing on a mac, key takeaways.

• Private Browsing in Safari hides browsing history, autofill details, downloads, and locks tabs after inactivity.
• Safari on Mac groups private and non-private tabs, while on iPhone it shows all tabs regardless of mode.
• To use Private Browsing in Safari, identify it by a dark address bar, "Private" indicator, or "Private" next to the site URL.

Most browsers offer a private browsing mode that aims to keep the websites you view off the record. But what exactly does it do in Safari and how do you get the best out of it?

First and foremost, Private Browsing keeps the website pages you visit out of your History . The aim is to prevent someone else from seeing which pages you have visited if they have access to your phone or computer.

In Safari, Private Browsing does a lot more than just hide URLs. It also:

• Prevents recent searches from showing up in your history.
• Stops remembering details you enter in forms for autofill.
• Keeps downloaded items from appearing in your Downloads list.
• Locks private tabs after a period of inactivity.
• Adds tracking and fingerprinting protection.

However, it’s important to note that Private Browsing does not stop you from being tracked altogether. Websites you visit will still be able to use various methods to track you, and will still have access to all data that you send them.

On macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, Safari groups private tabs together, and separates them from non-private tabs. On Mac, each Safari window is either private or non-private, and can have as many tabs as you want.

On iPhone, you can switch between private and non-private modes, each of which shows all tabs belonging to that mode.

You can spot when you’re viewing a private tab with these signs:

• The address bar has a dark background. This may be less noticeable if you’re using Dark Mode .
• On Mac, you’ll see a prominent Private indicator in the title bar.
• On iPhone, you’ll see Private alongside the site URL at the bottom of your screen.

The steps to enter Private Browsing mode are nearly identical on an iPhone and iPad. The only difference is that the tab icon is at the bottom of the screen on iOS and the top on iPadOS.

• Long-press the tab icon (two overlapping pages) on the bottom-right (iPhone) or top-right (iPad) of your screen.
• Tap the New Private Tab menu item.
• If locked, enter your passcode to unlock Private Browsing.

You can enter Private Browsing mode on macOS using either a menu item or a keyboard shortcut:

• Open the File menu and choose New Private Window .
• Alternatively, use the keyboard shortcut Shift + Cmd + n .
• Use the browser as you normally would. Any tabs you open from this window will open in the same window, in private mode.

You may want to prevent users of an iPhone or iPad from using Private Browsing mode at all. To do so:

• Open the Settings app.
• Tap on Screen Time .
• Under RESTRICTIONS , click on Content & Privacy Restrictions .
• If not already enabled, press the toggle next to Content & Privacy Restrictions to enable.
• Tap Content Restrictions .
• Change the Web Content setting to Limit Adult Websites .

The option to enter private mode will now be gone.

On macOS, the wording of certain options differs slightly, but the overall process is near-identical to iOS:

• Open System Settings via the Apple menu.
• Click on Screen Time in the left panel.
• Under the Restrictions section, click on Content & Privacy .
• Click Content Restrictions .
• Change the Access to Web Content setting to Limit Adult Websites .

Private Browsing will now be unavailable in Safari, although any existing private windows will stay open.

Of course, anyone can re-enable Private Browsing using the same process, in reverse. However, you can use Screen Time’s Lock Screen Time Settings option to set a passcode and enforce the setting permanently.

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Google paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 to be Safari's default search engine

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Now the iPad Will Get Alternate App Stores, Too

The iPad might finally be free to shine

Key Features

• The EC has designated the iPad as "gatekeeper" tech under the DMA
• Apple will have to open iPadOS up to alternative app stores and browser engines.
• This could be a renaissance for iPad software.

The EU has told Apple to open up the iPad to alternative app stores and browser engines, just like the iPhone. Arguably, these rule changes make way more sense for the iPad than the iPhone, no matter where you live.

When the EU forced Apple to open up iOS to alternative app stores and to allow non-Safari browsers onto the device, many of us assumed that this meant the iPad as well as the iPhone, but no. Apple took this to mean iOS only, not iPadOS, the exact kind of persnickety faux distinction that has characterized Apple's bad-faith responses to Europe's laws. Now, that has changed. This week, the European Commission made it explicit : the iPad has to get all the same fixes as the iPhone.

"I believe the iPad, with its larger screen and more powerful capabilities compared to the iPhone, stands to benefit immensely from this increased flexibility. This could address a longstanding critique of the iPad ecosystem—that it does not fully utilize its hardware capabilities due to software limitations," mobile software developer Cache Merrill told Lifewire via email.

Just a Big iPhone

Ever since the beginning, critics have described the iPad as a big iPhone, and this is both its strength and its weakness. It inherits the iPhone's powerful hardware, rock-solid reliability and longevity, and a whole host of mobile-first apps. But it is also hamstrung by Apple imposing the same restrictions on the tablet as it does the phone.

The iPad uses the same M-series Apple Silicon chips as the Mac, but it doesn't even have a proper, reliable file browser, and when Apple finally started letting us run apps together in multiple windows, it did it with Stage Manager, which is still so janky that it's best avoided.

Worse, the promise of the iPad has been stunted by the App Store. Because App Store policies and its review processes are so fickle, and the rules so arbitrarily applied , no software company is going to sink years of development time and money into an app that Apple might reject at the outset, or at any time in the future. The App Store review process is supposed to keep bad actors and malware out of the store, but it does not . What it does do is give Apple absolute control over who can make software for its platforms.

That's about to change and hopefully will become the default in all regions, not just the EU.

The European Commission now considers the iPad as a "gatekeeper," according to a statement issued on Monday . This means that Apple will have to open it up to alternative app stores and browser engines, just like it has with the iPhone.

iPadOS only became a separate entity in 2019 , nine years after the iPad's launch in 2010. Until then, it ran the same iPhone OS, which became iOS. Under the hood, it's still all the same evolution of OS X as Apple deploys across the Mac, the iPhone, the Apple TV, and even the Studio Display.

"iPadOS is clearly more of a marketing distinction than a technical one. It’s iOS under the hood, so I doubt it’ll be much trouble for Apple to apply its DMA compliance features from iOS to iPadOS," writes unofficial Apple spokesperson John Gruber on his personal blog.

Opening up the iPad to third-party stores could transform it. Without the constant worry about Apple's mercurial App Store policies, big software companies could invest in deeper apps. Ableton could make a version of its Live software, for example. And virtualization companies like Parallels could let you install Windows or Linux on your touch computer.

And if that happens, maybe Apple would be forced into making macOS available on the iPad. And why not? They use the same chips, the iPad already comes in more-or-less the same 13-inch screen size as the MacBook, and if you've ever tried to use the Mac with a touch screen, it's not nearly as bad as Apple makes out .

Apple is hurting itself with all this lock-in. If the iPad was allowed to be as free and open as the Mac, it could become the most compelling touch computer in the world. But Apple cannot see beyond its 15-30% cut of every sale made on the platform, which has led to this absurd situation where the iPad's amazing hardware continues to be hampered by backward software.

But not for much longer.

Read the original article on Lifewire .

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Apple to unveil AI-enabled Safari browser alongside new operating systems

Safari getting new AI tools in iOS 18

The software — expected to debut as Safari 18 later in 2024 — is currently undergoing evaluation alongside internal builds of Apple's next-generation operating system updates, namely iOS 18 and macOS 15, according to people familiar with the matter. Should all of the new features make it to the release candidate stage, users will be treated to a new user interface (UI) for customizing popular page controls, a "Web eraser" feature, and AI-driven content summarization tools.

Intelligent Search - AI-enhanced browsing and text summarization

Engineers evaluating the latest builds of Safari 18 can find a toggle for the new page controls menu within the browser's address bar. The menu consolidates — and provides quick access to — old and new page control tools, among them being the browser's new "Intelligent Search" feature.

This feature is not automatically enabled in test builds of Safari 18 and instead requires manual activation from the page controls menu. Once enabled, it's believed the tool leverages Apple's on-device AI technology — specifically the Ajax language-learning model — to identify topics and key phrases within a webpage for which to base the summarization.

In selecting key phrases, Apple's LLM software identifies sentences that provide explanations or describe the structure of objects, depending on the text in question. Words repeated within a text and key sentences are recognized as text topics.

These early indications suggest Apple is striving to deliver text summarization alongside Safari 18 later this year, though the exact implementation of this feature remains fuzzy.

Apple's text summarization features could be a response to rival generative AI tools, such as OpenAI's ChatGPT. But Apple's on-device models and technologies like Private Relay could make the experience much more secure for users. Intelligent Search is also likely to be the same AI browser assistant that one X user hinted at a couple of weeks back.

Web Eraser for better content-blocking

Also accessible from the new page controls menu is a feature Apple is testing called "Web Eraser." As its name would imply, it's designed to allow users to remove, or erase, specific portions of web pages, according to people familiar with the feature.

The feature is expected to build upon existing privacy features within Safari and will allow users to erase unwanted content from any webpage of their choosing. Users will have the option to erase banner ads, images, text or even entire page sections, all with relative ease.

The erasure is said to be persistent, rather than limited to a browsing session. This means that Safari will remember the changes even after the original tab or window has been closed.

When visiting a web page with previously erased content, Safari will inform the user that the page has been modified to reflect their desired changes. The browser will also give the user the option to revert changes and restore the webpage to its initial, unaltered state.

As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear.

Updated UI will move key tools into one easy location

The new page controls menu referenced throughout this article will attempt to offer Safari 18 users quick and easy access to several options previously located across different menus and the Share Sheet. Running on pre-release versions of macOS 15, for instance, the menu also pulls in the "Aa" menu common on existing iPadOS versions of the browser. These include zoom options, webpage settings for privacy controls, content blocking options, extension shortcuts, and access to the new AI and erasure tools.

These various options existed previously on macOS, but were found by navigating through the Safari settings menu. Having all of these controls in one central location in the Address Bar will make these options more discoverable for end users. Other options like on-page text search and reader mode are also in this menu.

This all suggests Apple intends to unite the iPadOS and macOS Safari UI paradigms when it unveils its new OS releases during its Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

AI-enhanced Visual Lookup feature could be available in 2025

Simultaneously, Apple is also working on a much more powerful visual search feature scheduled for integration sometime in 2025 that will allow users to obtain information on consumer products when browsing through images. People familiar with the tool say it's similar to the Visual Lookup feature, through which Siri can identify plants, pets and landmarks from photos.

Visual Search could be implemented as a system-wide feature. So, instead of surfacing search results in the Photos app, the user may be able to use Visual Search directly in Safari by selecting an image.

Given development of this tool is in the earlier stages, it remains unclear how Apple will ultimately go about implementing it. It also remains to be seen whether or not the feature will make it through internal testing.

The iPhone maker has expressed significant interest in artificial intelligence and more recently published research related to on-device language learning models. This goes hand in hand with widespread rumors about several other AI-powered software features, many of which are expected to make their debut later this year with iOS 18.

Another big year for Safari

From its inception, Safari was always meant to rival existing web browsers.

Safari was originally added to macOS as a means of replacing Microsoft's Internet Explorer for Mac, which was the default browser. Over the years, the app made its way to the iPhone , and has since received various upgrades over the years.

More recent versions of Safari provide users with personalized web suggestions, and allow for greater privacy protection with features such as iCloud Private Relay.

This latest set of enhancements only serves to better position Safari against the competition, in an ever-increasing landscape of generative AI tools and third-party ad-blockers.

While Apple tests many such features during different development stages, it is important to remember that not all of them make it to release. Apple has been known to delay features or cancel them entirely, so there's always a chance we may not see these new Safari features after all.

Along with Safari 18 and its associated improvements, we should also see a revamped Calculator with Math Notes make its way to iPadOS 18. Freeform Scenes and Adaptive Voice Shortcuts are new OS features, which are also expected to debut later this year.

Apple is expected to introduce various AI-related enhancements as part of iOS 18 and macOS 15, both of which should be announced at the company's annual WWDC on June 10.

33 Comments

"As for where Apple got the inspiration for Web Eraser, the company could have Sherlocked the feature from the third-party app 1Blocker. The application features a similar way of erasing ads, where users would tap ads to make them disappear." They may also have been inspired by Simplified Page....

As long as I can turn it off/hide it they can knock themselves out. 

Will the web eraser feature remove pop up videos, such as the ones that appear on this site?

I use the 'Reader' function in Safari quite a bit, but sometimes it doesn't work very well. Seems like something that AI could help make better. 

Web ads suck but how else do you think your favorite websites will stay in business? Are you prepared to pay a subscription to every site? I doubt it…

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Google Paid Apple $20 Billion in 2022 to Be Default Safari Search Engine

Google paid Apple $20 billion in 2022 to be the default search engine for Safari on iPhone , iPad , and Mac, reports Bloomberg . The information was revealed in court documents Google provided in its antitrust dispute with the United States Department of Justice.

Google has been the default search engine on Apple devices since 2002, though the deal has been renegotiated several times. Apple and Google have worked to keep the terms of the search engine agreement under wraps during the trial and before, but it has been well known that Google is paying Apple billions per year .

Last October, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella testified that the agreement between Apple and Google has made it impossible for search engines like Bing to compete. Microsoft at one point wanted Apple to buy Bing, but Apple was not interested . Microsoft blamed Google, but Apple's Eddy Cue said that Aplple was concerned that Bing could not compete in "quality and capabilities." Cue claimed that Apple uses Google as the ‌iPhone‌'s default search engine because Apple has "always thought it was the best."

Google is the default search engine on Apple devices in most countries, but users can opt to swap to Yahoo, Bing, DuckDuckGo, and Ecosia as alternatives. Changing browser engines requires opening up the Safari settings.

In Europe, the Digital Markets Act has required Apple to make changes to how browsers work. Users are able to choose a default browser when setting up their ‌iPhone‌, and there are more options than the handful of providers that Apple allows in the United States.

If Google loses the antitrust lawsuit against it, the deal between Apple and Google could be dissolved. Closing arguments are expected on Thursday and Friday, with the judge's ruling set to come later in 2024.

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There’s a reason for the saying… “Just Google it” “Just Bing/DuckDuckGo it”… Said no one EVER…

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Safari tipped to get AI-powered Intelligent Search in iOS 18 and macOS 15

A new way to browse?

Big things could be coming to Apple ’s Safari web browser, as a new report claims it's in line for a serious overhaul that could transform it into the best web browser around. 

It’s just the latest in a long list of other Apple apps expected to see new artificial intelligence (AI) features in iOS 18 and macOS 15, both of which are expected to debut this summer at WWDC 2024 .

According to AppleInsider , Safari is going to be revamped in several key ways. That includes changes to the user interface, “advanced content blocking features,” plus a new tool called Intelligent Search that uses AI to level up your browsing experience.

The latter feature looks to be a headline grabber. It appears to use Apple’s in-house on-device AI – dubbed Ajax – to find key topics on a web page and condense them down into a handy readable summary. That could be a nifty tool for quickly getting the gist of a page when you’re in a hurry.

Elsewhere, there’s apparently a new feature called Web Eraser that lets you select specific parts of a web page and easily remove them. For instance, you might want to erase a banner ad or an image without breaking the rest of the page. Safari will remember your changes and keep them in place when you next visit the page, although there could be an option to revert them if you want.

A total AI overhaul

There’s one more piece to the puzzle: AppleInsider believes that Apple will consolidate a bunch of settings from different Safari menus and group them together behind a single button in the app’s address bar. This could include the new AI and Web Eraser tools, as well as options for controlling zoom levels, privacy settings, extension shortcuts and more.

These changes are all expected to debut in Safari 18, which will come to iOS 18 and macOS 15 and should make an appearance later in the year. They could be one of many AI-inspired alterations coming to Apple’s apps this June, with WWDC set to be packed full of AI announcements and new software features.

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Beyond this summer, AppleInsider says that Apple is working on another AI-enhanced feature called Visual Search that would let you look up consumer products in images. Like the existing Visual Lookup feature , it might be implemented system-wide, which could see it loaded into Safari, the Photos app, and more. However, it’s not expected to launch until 2025.

This year, though, could be a massive one for Apple’s apps and software. On the iPhone, iOS 18 is expected to be one of the largest overhauls in the operating system’s history , and macOS 15 might not be far behind. We’ve rounded up everything you need to know about what’s coming to WWDC 2024 , and with the show just a few weeks away, there’s a lot to look forward to.

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• iOS 18: rumored features, predicted release date, and everything we want to see
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Alex Blake has been fooling around with computers since the early 1990s, and since that time he's learned a thing or two about tech. No more than two things, though. That's all his brain can hold. As well as TechRadar, Alex writes for iMore, Digital Trends and Creative Bloq, among others. He was previously commissioning editor at MacFormat magazine. That means he mostly covers the world of Apple and its latest products, but also Windows, computer peripherals, mobile apps, and much more beyond. When not writing, you can find him hiking the English countryside and gaming on his PC.

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Apple’s Safari Browser May Let You Erase Ads Completely With New AI Makeover

More interestingly, the browser could let you highlight and erase whole sections of web pages. Tired of the banner ads on top of Gizmodo’s site? If the rumors are true, Safari might have the ability to mask that. It all comes from a report from Apple Insider based on the latest builds of Safari 18 . The controls hidden in the latest test models of the browser seem to indicate Safari would paper over sections of a site you don’t want to see. Better yet, it would remember your selections and re-erase the same parts of the page if you come back to it later. You would have the option of reverting the page to its original state.

That feature is akin to apps like 1Blocker on Safari with iPhone or uBlock Origin on other browsers, two apps that allow you to apply cosmetic filters on offending ads. 1Blocker in particular tells Safari what parts of the page to open, which also may help increase the speed at which the page loads.

Of course, advertisers and online publishers would not be happy about any built-in ad-blocking features. The click-centric publishing model is already flailing with the greater push for AI in Google Search.

But this is still extremely early, and code found inside Safari 18 does not necessarily point to how Apple plans to roll out these features, if at all. But AI upgrades to Safari feel inevitable. The so-called “Intelligent Search” would use a large language model to find key phrases and words in an article as the basis for its summary. AI summaries are already available in Edge through the Copilot feature, and Chrome’s Gemini-powered assistant can perform a similar task.

AI features may be Apple’s best bet if it wants to take a hammer to Google’s search and ad monopoly. That’s what Microsoft has been doing with its Edge browser and Bing search, but so far Google Search and Chrome remain dominant in their categories. Apple is also going all-in on AI with its upcoming releases. The M4 chip, expected to debut along with the new OLED iPad Pro , will reportedly have a better neural processor than its previous M-series CPUs. Similarly, the next iPhone 16 is said to have a bunch of AI capabilities with the promise of running some of these language models or art generators on-device.

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Change the default web browser or email app on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

With iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 and later, you can change which app opens when you click a website link or an email address as long as the app supports it.

Before you begin

Make sure that you have iOS 14 or iPadOS 14 or later, and that you have the app properly installed on your device.

Make sure that the web browser app or email app supports this feature. If you aren't sure, contact the app developer .

How to change your default web browser or email app

Go to Settings and scroll down until you find the browser app or the email app.

Tap the app, then tap Default Browser App or Default Mail App.

Select a web browser or email app to set it as the default. A checkmark appears to confirm it's the default.

If you don't see the option to set a web browser or email app as your default, the developer might not support it. Contact the app developer to learn more .

If you delete your default web browser app, your device will set Safari as the default browser app.

In countries or regions of the European Union on iOS 17.4 or later: after you choose a default browser from the web browser choice screen, if you want to change that setting, follow the steps to change your default browser .

If you delete your default email app, your device will set the Mail app as the default. If you delete the Mail app, your device will set one of your other email apps as the default. To use the Mail app again, you'll need to re-install it on your device.

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