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Apple’s iOS 26.2 lets iPhone users in Japan replace Siri with third-party assistants via side button

MacDailyNews

Nov 18

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New functionality for the iPhone’s Side Button has been confirmed for users in Japan, allowing them to assign it to a third-party voice assistant.

This feature was initially hinted at by signs of a new Side Button function in the iOS 26.2 beta 3 update and has now been officially confirmed in Apple’s developer documentation.

Juli Clover for MacRumors:
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Developers are able to set up an App Intents framework that will allow voice-based conversational apps to be launched directly from the Side Button in Japan.
Right now, a long press on the Side Button activates Siri, and there is no option to change that. Japanese ‌iPhone‌ users will soon be able to select a new default, opting to activate Alexa, Gemini, or another voice assistant instead. App developers will need to expressly adopt this functionality for Side Button access to be available to consumers.
iOS 26.2 also adds support for third-party App Stores and provides a Safari Search Engine choice screen during setup in Japan. With these features, Apple is complying with Mobile Software Competition Act Guidelines established by the Japan Fair Trade Commission.

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MacDailyNews Take: Of course, all other users can activate Grok, Alexa, Gemini, or another voice assistant via an app, as usual. If fact, any user in any country with a third-party assistant app installed can long press their iPhone’s Side button and simply say, for example, “launch Grok.”

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