For the past few months, Apple has been painstakingly working to comply with the Digital Market Act (DMA) in the European Union (EU). The tech titan has begun testing these changes through developers since last month through iOS 17.4 beta update. Early this week, Apple released the anticipated iOS 17.4 to the public.
iOS 17.4 comes with a flurry of new features and changes, especially for those who live in EU countries. One of the biggest changes with this update is authorizing alternative app marketplaces on iPhone.
So, if you recently installed iOS 17.4 on your iPhone and wondered how you can sideload the app, here’s everything you need to know about the new feature.
What is App Sideloading?
Sideloading apps refers to the process of installing apps outside the App Store whether through an IPA file or from the alternative app marketplace.
Although things are not as easy as you think, iOS apps will go through various checks including the app’s basic information as well as the security checks.
Can I sideload apps on my iPhone after installing iOS 17.4?
Yes, you can sideload apps on your iPhone. However, at the time of writing, no alternate app marketplace is available from where you can download third-party apps. According to a report by TechCrunch, MacPaw complies with Apple’s controversial DMA rules and will release its subscription-based app marketplace, Setapp next month.
As reported by iMore, there’s another app, dubbed, Mobivention, which will provide business-focused applications set to release on March 7. So, yes, we need to wait for a few more weeks to see third-party app stores hitting the iPhones.
Apart from alternate app marketplaces, you can utilize the traditional sideloading method, which requires the laptop, Apple ID, an IPA file, iTunes and iCloud, and a lightning cable. You can explore our detailed guide on how to sideload apps on iPhone using Altstore or Sideloadly.
AltStore is also working on an app marketplace dedicated to European countries, the company said it will be available in March.
List of Countries where I can use Alternate App Marketplaces on iPhone
The new app sideloading feature is restricted to 27 European countries, here’s the complete list.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Republic of Cyprus
- Czech Republic
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- Malta
- Netherlands
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
Even if you live in any European country, this doesn’t mean your iPhone or iPad is eligible for the new app sideloading feature. According to 9to5Mac, your device will go through multiple checks before enabling the new sideloading feature, including the billing address of your Apple ID, the current location of your device, region settings, as well as the device class.
Can I sideload apps on my iPhone using a VPN?
No, you won’t, folks over at ZDNET confirmed this information and Apple told users won’t be able to sideload apps using a VPN. As mentioned earlier, multiple checks will performed on your device before enabling the new sideloading feature, and changing the iPhone’s geo-location isn’t as easy as you think.
How can I sideload apps on my iPhone?
Usually, Apple provides step-by-step instructions for new features on its support page; with the app sideloading feature becoming an exception. We can expect the company will share a guide when an alternate app marketplace is available.
We will share a detailed guide on how you can use the new app sideloading feature once a trusted alternate app marketplace is available, so, stay connected with us.
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