Report: iOS 16.1 May Allow Removal of Wallet App

24 AUGUST 2022 - What’s funny about Apple’s insistence that iPadOS is “its own platform…” is… well… you know… it’s just funny. A piece from 9 to 5 Mac says we may have learned about a change coming to iOS 16.1 based on code In iPadOS 16.1 - despite it being its own platform. According to that piece, it looks like users will be able to delete the Wallet app when iOS 16.1 rolls out.

Currently, the piece points out, the Wallet app is pre-installed in iOS and cannot be uninstalled. However, after spelunking in this week’s iPadOS 16.1 update, the report says:

Code seen by 9 to 5 Mac makes it clear that the Wallet app has become “deletable” with iOS 16.1. Unsurprisingly, some features like Apple Pay won’t work without the Wallet app. In this case, users will see a message telling them to “Download the Wallet app from the App Store.”

9 to 5 Mac figures the move is meant to head off various antitrust complaints and lawsuits. The 9 to 5 Mac piece says betas of iOS have let users delete the pre-installed apps Clock, Find My, and Health.