The much-anticipated iOS 17 Sideloading feature is on the horizon, according to a recent update from Mark Gurman. Apple is set to implement changes to the App Store, enabling app sideloading and the use of third-party app stores, in response to the approaching deadline imposed by the European Union (EU). However, there’s a twist – this modification will be exclusive to European regions governed by the Digital Markets Act (DMA). Unfortunately, users outside of these regions, including the United States, won’t benefit from this newfound flexibility.
In Mark Gurman’s latest newsletter, it’s revealed that Apple’s strategy involves ‘splitting the App Store in two‘ to align with the EU’s DMA requirements. Consequently, there will be two versions of the App Store – one compliant with the DMA, allowing access to third-party app stores, and another version maintaining the current restrictions.
The anticipated changes are poised to be implemented in the upcoming weeks, just before the European Union deadline compelling Apple to enable app sideloading. Specifically, the deadline for Apple to adhere to the Digital Markets Act (DMA) is March 7, providing the tech giant with approximately 7 weeks to implement the necessary adjustments. This implies that the introduction of sideloading to iOS 17 will occur through iOS 17.x updates.
In a meeting at Apple Park last week, Apple CEO Tim Cook and the EU’s antitrust chief, Margrethe Vestager, discussed Apple’s impending obligation to allow users to download apps from third-party app stores. Furthermore, Apple will be required to grant developers the ability to expand their services beyond the App Store and utilize third-party payment systems for transactions. These changes mandated by the EU’s DMA are expected to significantly impact the functioning of the App Store, Siri, and FaceTime in Europe.
The revelation wasn’t unexpected, considering the European Union’s significance as one of Apple’s major markets. Compliance with the Digital Markets Act (DMA) was inevitable for Apple, given the stakes involved. Despite Apple’s persistent resistance to widespread app sideloading, citing privacy and security concerns, the decision to acquiesce reflects a compelled choice. Much like the mandatory shift to USB-C on iPhone 15 models, Apple’s agreement to enable app sideloading appears to be a reluctant concession.
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