iOS 26.2 Lets Japan iPhones Swap Siri

iOS 26.2 Lets Japan iPhones Swap Siri

iOS 26.2 Lets iPhone Users in Japan Replace Siri With Third-Party Assistants Apple’s iOS 26.2 update is giving iPhone users in Japan a major new option: replacing Siri with third-party assistants on the Side Button. This means long-pressing the Side Button can now launch Alexa, Gemini, or other voice assistants, offering more flexibility and personalization. Developers can use the App Intents framework to make their apps compatible, and users must have their Apple Account set to Japan to activate this feature. Image : Google How Does iOS 26.2 Side Button Third-Party Support Work? The Side Button has traditionally triggered Siri with a long press. iOS 26.2 introduces an option for Japanese users to assign a third-party assistant instead. When developers integrate App Intents, users can instantly launch a voice-based app via the Side Button. Apple emphasizes that an audio session should start immediately for seamless user experience. This is currently exclusive to Japan and requires the dev…