How to Set Your Own Default Browser and Email App in iOS 14

Not into Safari or Apple Mail? With the next update, you can (finally) customize your preferences. Here’s what to know before you get started.
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Photograph: Apple 

In iOS 14, Apple finally added the ability to choose your default browser and email client. That means when you click a link in an app, it won’t lead you to Safari when you'd rather go to Chrome—or Apple Mail when you’d rather send a message from Outlook. The setting is a bit hidden, though, and it only works with certain apps that support the new feature.

How to Set Your Default Browser in iOS 14
Whitson Gordon via Apple

Instead of appearing in the general settings of your iPhone, this feature actually resides in the settings for third-party apps it supports, like Google Chrome. Make sure you’ve updated to iOS 14 in Settings > General Software Update, then head to Settings and scroll down to your browser of choice. If the app supports being set as the default, you'll see a Default Browser App option—tap it, choose your default app of choice, and future links should open in that app instead of Safari.

At the time of this writing, the following browsers can be set as the default in iOS 14:

Whitson Gordon via Apple

Brave does not support the feature yet, though the developers have noted that the next version will, and it is just waiting to be approved by Apple. We've also confirmed that Opera Touch, Firefox Focus, UC Browser, Dolphin, and Ghostery are not supported at this time, though we hope to see more appear soon.

How to Set Your Default Email App in iOS 14

Choosing a default email app works just like choosing a default browser: After updating to iOS 14, you can open iOS’ settings, scroll down to your list of apps, and find the app you want to set as default. Tap it, and if it supports the feature, it'll have a Default Mail App button, which you can tap to choose your desired mail client.

Right now, the following mail clients can be set as the default in iOS 14:

Many email apps have not yet integrated this feature, including Edison Mail, Newton, ProtonMail, Canary, Twobird, Triage, and Spike—though hopefully they'll come soon.


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