iOS 17 will mark the first time Apple will officially allow iPhone users to sideload apps from outside of the official App Store, says Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
The change would allow customers to download apps without needing to go through the App Store, meaning developers wouldn’t be required to pay Apple’s 15 to 30% cut of the action.
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which went into effect on November 1, 2022, requires “gatekeeper” companies (like Apple and Google) to open up their services and platforms to other companies and developers.
Apple will be forced to allow users to install third-party app stores and sideload apps, allow developers to promote their offers outside the App Store, use third-party payment systems, and access data gathered by Apple.
Apple is planning to implement sideloading support to comply with the new European regulations by next year, according to Gurman.
In March 2022, Apple said it was “concerned that some provisions of the DMA will create unnecessary privacy and security vulnerabilities for our users.” The Cupertino firm says the new requirements will leave people vulnerable to malware, scams, data tracking, and other issues. However, Apple must comply with the DMA or it risks fines of as much as 20% of its global revenue if the EU laws are violated.
Gurman has said that Apple was considering implementing security requirements such as verification, similar to its process on the Mac that allows users to be safe while giving them access to apps outside of the Mac App Store, a process that it could charge a fee for in lieu of collecting money from app sales.
Other countries, including the United States, are mulling over introducing similar legislation that would require Apple to allow sideloading.