Users who want to use a voice assistant other than Siri on the iPhone 17 or earlier models currently need to open the relevant app manually, as holding the lock button activates Siri by default. This may change with the upcoming release of iOS 26.2.
According to findings from MacRumors, code in the Siri framework of the third developer beta indicates that Apple is preparing to allow users to choose a different “default side button app.” In previous versions, system messages referred specifically to Siri, but the new beta replaces these mentions with a placeholder. One message notes that users will be able to select a different default app for the side button, while another warns if the chosen app does not support voice commands.
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This adjustment appears to be driven by compliance with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which mandates that third-party apps must have access to the same hardware features as Apple’s own software. For similar reasons, iOS 26.2 will reportedly allow users to set a third-party payment app to launch with a double press of the lock button, enabling NFC payments outside of Apple Pay.
Additionally, 9to5Mac reports that AirDrop will gain a new feature allowing devices to pair using a PIN code. Once paired, the devices will remain visible to each other for up to 30 days — a notable improvement over the current limit of 10 minutes or visibility restricted to saved contacts.