iOS 17.4 brings alternative app stores to the EU: restrictions confirmed for long stays outside the EU

We previously reported on sideloading in iOS and raised concerns about possible restrictions on this feature in the EU. These have now been confirmed. Users outside the EU, or those leaving the bloc for an extended period, will find themselves excluded from these new features.

With the release of iOS 17.4, Apple has introduced significant changes for iPhone users in the European Union to comply with the requirements of the Digital Markets Act (DMA). A key element of this update is the introduction of the ability to use alternative app stores, an adaptation specifically aimed at the European market. Developers such as EPIC and MacPaw have already expressed interest and announced their own store versions. However, this innovation is only available to users within the EU; Apple has implemented mechanisms to restrict access to such stores outside the EU.

In a recent support document, Apple addresses another important restriction: If EU citizens leave the Union for an extended period of time, access to these alternative app stores will be disabled, even if the country stored in the Apple ID profile is an EU member state. This is based on a location check performed directly on the iPhone, without any data being transmitted to Apple. While the exact length of the transition period after which access will be withdrawn has not been specified, all indications are that it will be more than a few weeks.