Unlock Third-Party Assistants on iPhone With iOS 26.2
▼ Summary
– iOS 26.2 beta 3 introduces code allowing Japanese iPhone users to set a different default voice assistant activated by the Side Button instead of Siri.
– The change is a response to Japan’s Mobile Software Competition Act, which requires platform holders to allow third-party access to core functions like voice assistants.
– Apple’s documentation confirms this functionality will initially be limited to users in Japan with a Japanese Apple Account.
– The new feature will enable users to launch apps like Gemini or Alexa by holding the Side Button, as referenced in code snippets about Side Button settings.
– Similar voice assistant flexibility may come to the EU due to Digital Markets Act requirements, but Apple has not confirmed a timeline for this expansion.
Apple is reportedly preparing to introduce a significant change for iPhone users in Japan, allowing them to set a third-party voice assistant as the default option activated by the Side Button. Currently, pressing and holding this button exclusively triggers Siri, but code discovered in the iOS 26.2 beta 3 indicates new settings that will let Japanese users choose an alternative app for this function.
The new functionality will enable individuals in Japan to assign popular assistants like Google’s Gemini or Amazon’s Alexa to launch with a long press of the Side Button, moving beyond Apple’s built-in Siri. Several text strings found in the beta build explicitly reference this upcoming capability, mentioning options such as “Side Button Settings” and “Select Another Default Side Button App.” Notifications within the code also warn users if an app becomes ineligible for Side Button use or is unavailable in their region.
This development appears directly linked to Japan’s recently enacted Mobile Software Competition Act. The legislation, passed in August, mandates that platform holders like Apple must grant third-party applications access to core OS features, including hardware-level interactions for virtual assistants. The law specifically prohibits companies from favoring their own services for these key user interactions. With the guidelines scheduled to take effect in December 2025, Apple’s inclusion of this feature in iOS 26.2 aligns perfectly with the compliance timeline.
Initially, some reports suggested the feature might also launch in the European Union. However, Apple’s current documentation confirms that the ability to assign a non-Siri assistant to the Side Button will, for now, be restricted to Japanese accounts. The company’s internal frameworks house the relevant code within private Siri sections, reinforcing that the update pertains specifically to voice assistant interoperability.
Regulatory pressure in Europe could eventually lead to a similar rollout there. The EU’s Digital Markets Act requires gatekeepers to provide third-party developers with access to the same hardware and software features available to the gatekeeper’s own services. It also states that users should be able to easily change default settings related to virtual assistants. While Bloomberg previously indicated Apple was preparing to offer EU users a choice of default assistant, it remains unclear if or when such a change will be implemented outside Japan. For the upcoming iOS 26.2 release, the feature will be geographically limited, functioning only for iPhones with a Japanese Apple Account and located within Japan.
(Source: Mac Rumors)
