Apple's iOS 26.2 features Side button settings that let users swap Siri for another assistant — but only in Japan, not the European Union for now.
Monday saw the release of iOS 26.2 developer beta 3, which included references to new settings for the iPhone side button. Essentially, code from the operating system suggested that it would become possible to press and hold the Side button, and toggle a virtual assistant of your choice — one other than Siri.
Initially, it was believed that these settings were related mainly to the European Union and its Digital Markets Act. The DMA effectively requires that Apple provide third-party app makers with the "same hardware and software features" it utilizes within iOS. However, the EU is not the only region that has legislation of this nature.
As MacRumors points out, Apple is similarly required to abide by the Mobile Software Competition Act Guidelines in Japan. As it turns out, the new Side button settings are currently meant for users in Japan, according to Apple's developer documentation.
In essence, Apple has made it so that voice-based conversational applications can be opened by pressing and holding the Side button, though only in Japan for the time being. Specifically, using the feature requires an Apple Account with the region set to Japan, and a device physically located in Japan.
This ultimately means that iPhone users in Japan will be able to choose Google Gemini, Amazon Alexa, or a different default voice assistant instead of Siri, albeit without the same degree of integration. Developers in the country will need to opt in to enable this functionality, however.
"In Japan, people might place an action on the side button of iPhone that instantly launches your voice-based conversational app," reads Apple's documentation. "People expect the voice-based conversational functionality to be instantly available when they launch your app with the side button, so make sure to let them immediately use it by starting an audio session - for example, with AVFoundation."
Allowing third-party assistants to take Siri's place effectively eliminates the step of using Siri as a go-between with the third-party service. While it's Japan-only for the time being, there's always a chance the new Side button settings will become available in the European Union at some point.
In the EU, the Digital Markets Act says users should be able to "easily change the default settings on the operating system, virtual assistant, and web browser of the gatekeeper that direct or steer end users to products or services provided by the gatekeeper."
Apple could ultimately make third-party virtual assistants available as Siri alternatives to users in the European Union. This was previously rumored in May 2025, so the move would not be unexpected.
