iPhone Users Can Soon Set Alexa Or Gemini As Default Assistant, But There’s A Catch

Apple is preparing a significant change to the iPhone’s voice assistant options with iOS 26.2, but the feature will be limited to users in Japan. In the third beta of iOS 26.2, developers found new code indicating that Apple is working on allowing the Side Button—normally used to activate Siri—to instead trigger a third-party voice assistant. These references appear in Apple’s private Siri frameworks and mention actions such as “Press and Hold to Speak,” Side Button settings, and warnings displayed when an app cannot be assigned as the default assistant.

The code suggests that iPhone users in Japan will be able to choose services like Google Gemini, Amazon Alexa, or other assistant apps to activate through the Side Button. Apple noted that this capability will not be available globally and is specifically tied to Japanese regulatory requirements.

This change follows the Mobile Software Competition Act, a law passed in Japan in August 2025. The legislation requires platform owners—including Apple—to allow third-party developers access to core OS functions, including voice assistant integration and hardware-level controls. It also states that platform holders cannot favor their own services for key interactions such as virtual assistant activation.

These regulations take effect in December 2025, making the addition of this feature in iOS 26.2 consistent with the required timeline. Apple has confirmed in its documentation that the option to replace Siri on the Side Button will be restricted to Japanese Apple ID accounts located in Japan.

Earlier reporting incorrectly suggested that the feature would also launch in the European Union, and although this may happen in the future, Apple’s current implementation supports only the Japanese market. However, regulatory pressure in the EU could eventually lead to similar requirements. The Digital Markets Act (DMA) mandates that gatekeepers must allow access to hardware and software features and enable users to change default system settings, including those involving virtual assistants.

Industry observers interpret this to mean that Apple may eventually need to provide EU users with the ability to choose a default assistant other than Siri. For now, Apple has not announced any timeline for expanding the feature. iOS 26.2 will restrict alternative voice assistant support to Japan, giving those users the first opportunity to activate third-party assistants through the iPhone’s Side Button.

Filed in Apple >Cellphones. Read more about Alexa, Apple, Google gemini, iOS, Siri and Voice Assistant.