Apple may finally allow sideloading of iOS apps in the EU next year

No matter how big Apple gets, like any other company, it must follow laws set by legislative bodies. As you know, the latest iPhone 15 series is equipped with a USB Type-C port. This follows the earlier passing of EU legislation requiring electronic devices to be equipped with USB-C. It now appears that Apple will have to comply with another EU law that forces it to act as a fair company within the digital app market. This could change Apple’s policy of having the official App Store as the sole source for new apps.

Apple may allow app sideloading on iPhone for EU users in 2024: Details

The speculation comes from a recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Garman , which states that Apple plans to introduce ” highly managed systems ” during this time. This will allow iPhone users in the EU to install apps from other sources , not just the Apple App Store. This change could roll out to users in the EU as early as the first half of 2024 .

So why does Apple allow sideloading ? There’s another major EU law that is forcing Apple to change things. This is known as the Digital Markets Act ( DMA ) . This law aims to make the markets that exist in the digital field ” fairer and more competitive .” The DMA has specific criteria for analyzing which companies are considered “gatekeepers”.

The DMA does not allow entities identified as “gatekeepers” that maintain core services such as the App Store to be shut down to competition. Businesses must comply with the obligations and prohibitions listed in this law passed in 2022. Since then, there has been speculation that sideloading might soon be available on the iPhone.

Apple will reportedly also change the way messaging and payment apps work on devices. MacRumors says this could be implemented through a localized iOS 17 update. However, it’s also possible that this change will take effect when Apple announces iOS 18 at its annual event WWDC. At this time, it is unclear exactly which iOS update this change will be included in. We will provide updates as the situation progresses.

For those who don’t know, sideloading is basically the ability to install apps from another source. This is a popular feature provided by jailbreaking iOS, but it is also possible to sideload tweaks and apps without jailbreaking.

What does Apple think about sideloading?

Apple’s attitude towards sideloading is far from positive. Apple’s senior vice president, Craig Federighi, spoke publicly about sideloading in 2021 at Web Summit 2021, stating that “sideloading is a cybercriminal’s best friend.” Additionally, Apple CEO Tim Cook spoke in 2022 about the dangers of sideloading apps on iPhones and iPads .

It remains to be seen how exactly Apple will implement this change, and whether sideloading using the upcoming “highly controlled system” (as Gurman puts it) will be completely safe for users. We’ll have to see for ourselves. This is a very difficult situation for Apple given how locked down their ecosystem is.

What do you think about sideloading apps on iPhone? Do you think this change could spread to other countries and eventually the world? Let us know in the comments below.