Apple sets iOS 14 default browser changes in motion with new developer guidelines

What you need to know

• Apple will let users change their default browsers and mail apps for the first time ever in iOS 14.
• Apple has released new developer guidelines outlining the requirements that need to be met.
• This should pave the way for new alternatives to Mail and Safari as default apps on iOS.

Apple has shared its new developer guidelines regarding how to create a third-party app that can be used as a default in iOS 14.

In the new guidelines Apple notes a big upcoming change to iOS 14, letting users select their default web browser or email app. If developers want their app to be a choice, they'll have to meet certain criteria. From the guide:

Apps will need to contact Apple to get signing permission from Apple to use the 'com.apple.developer.web-browser' managed entitlement, which will denote that the app can be used as a default web browser.

There are other requirements, however. Some are more technical, for example, apps can't use UIWebView, they must be fully-fledged browsers in their own right. Other requirements, however, concern the user experience. On launch, an app "must provide a text field for entering a URL, search tools for finding relevant links on the internet, or curated lists of bookmarks." And there's more:

There are also some less comprehensive guidelines for the default email apps. As with browsing, Apple notes that "since email is a critical avenue for communication, Apple requires that email apps must meet specific functional criteria aimed at ensuring private and accurate access for users." The initial guidance here is a lot more basic however, requirements include being able to send a message to "any valid email recipient" and being able to "receive a message from any email sender."