Apple is introducing a new setup prompt in iOS 26.2 that lets iPhone users in Japan choose their preferred search engine. The option appears right after installing the update, giving users a direct choice before they start using Safari.
The list includes Bing, Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo Japan, and Ecosia. These are the same search engines already available in Safari’s settings worldwide. Outside Japan, Google remains the default option, and users must change it manually in the Settings app to switch.
Google pays Apple around $20 billion each year to stay the default search provider on Apple devices. That long-standing deal explains why Apple doesn’t show a search engine selection screen in most regions. The change in Japan is a response to new government rules.
Japan’s New Digital Rules Drive the Change
Japan recently issued guidelines that require companies like Apple to offer a neutral choice screen during device setup. The goal is to prevent one company from dominating the search market. Because Yahoo Japan remains popular in the country, Apple had to align with the Japan Fair Trade Commission’s requirements.
The update also adds early support for alternative app marketplaces in Japan. This feature ties into the Mobile Software Competition Act, which takes effect on December 18, 2025. The timing matches when iOS 26.2 is expected to be released to the public.
For iPhone owners in Japan, the setup experience will now look slightly different. They’ll see a simple search engine selection screen during setup, alongside other regional compliance prompts. Users in other countries will continue to see Google as the default option unless they manually change it later.
The change highlights how Apple is adapting iOS to meet country-specific regulations while maintaining its global consistency.
