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UpTime
p/uptime-2
Set a default browser on iOS without Jailbreaking
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Steve Moser
UpTime — Set a default browser on iOS without Jailbreaking
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1. Download the UpTime Web Browser app

2. Disable Safari by opening Settings.app, tapping General, tapping Restrictions, and finally setting the Safari switch to the off position. Then open any link.

3. iOS will display a pop-up asking if the user would like to open the UpTime Web Browser app. Now all links will open in Chrome.

Replies
Vivek Sancheti
This should be great thing for people like me who wants to use chrome instead of safari. One more thing "Call Recorder App" and will switch to iOS back :D
Neil
Close, but not quite - certain apps (like DS Get) grab URLs unless they're uninstalled, and the URL still gets passed through Uptime before opening in Chrome. You end up with a double app animation which is jarring and not really sustainable for long term use.
Steve Moser
Maker
@neilio Thanks for the feedback! Currently this is the best that Apple allows right now. Please give feedback to Apple as every bug report counts!
Steve Moser
Maker
Hi everyone 👋 Thanks for checking out UpTime. I know many of you are running the iOS 12 beta. Apple moved things around bit but it still works. Replace Step 2 above with: ... 2. Open Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions > Allowed Apps > Turn Safari Off ... Cheers!
Steve Moser
Maker
@david_kennedy_araujo I would love to but I get the following error when I try to "OH-OH! THERE HAS BEEN AN ERROR…"
Korey Scott
Thanks for your work developing this idea and product @stevemoser. Curious if there's anyway to determine which alternative browser the prompt directs to once initially blocking Safari? I'd prefer the "Opera Touch" browser, but cannot get it to trigger as an option (when installed on my phone, "iCab Mobile" web browser is actually being prioritized over "UpTime" in the prompt and links clickthrough directly to it thereafter [bypassing the app flow of the URL passing through UpTime before triggering the desired browser]. Wondering if that's known info and if anyway to have it trigger Opera Touch in the prompt (or some other browser as well).
Steve Moser
Maker
@koreyscott Thanks for the feedback. Unfortunately I believe iCab Mobile uses a similar mechanism to UpTime to attempt to be the first app to open links and having both installed on the same device produces nondeterministic behavior. Though you might try to delete both, install UpTime, open a link from another app so that UpTime opens, then install iCab Mobile.
David Z
@stevemoser what mechanism are you using to do it? I know apple let's apps bind to custom url schemes like pizza:// but I'm shocked they would let an app claim http:// and https://. Is the custom url scheme the trick youre doing here?
Steve Moser
Maker
@david_z Yeap, that is the trick. Unfortunately it looks like Apple is automatically checking for this on app submission. I tried to add it to Firefox and their app update was rejected.
Emmanuel Lemor
Interesting that people are pushing the limits of iOS to do new things but I'm probably the only one that doesn't think this is necessary. Safari works great, is fast, doesn't abuse my privacy like Chrome and is battery efficient - I may consider using Firefox on iOS if it was supported without using yet another app (but would never switch to Chrome).
Nina Shahverdyan
hmm, safari is not bad tho
Roland Clifford
i think you can do it mast better))
Rick Christy
Works great! THANK YOU! Safari is fine but I use chrome everywhere besides my iOS devices. I use chrome to separate my profiles. Safari sucks at that.
Rick Christy

But it is so worth it.

Pros:

Makes chrome open links in iOS

Cons:

It's 3$

Hunky Dork
You have a very small voice and you also let the end of your sentences fall down. It is almost impossible to know what the last word of your sentences are. I'm sure your family and friends understand you but to the general public who cannot read your lips, a lot remains a mystery.