Today, Apple released iOS 17.5 beta 2 to developers, marking a significant milestone as the company introduces another feature compelled by the European Union's Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Since iOS 17.5, EU iPhone users can now sideload apps from websites, starting a new era of flexibility in app acquisition. This change, thanks to DMA compliance adjustments in iOS 17.4, means Apple now supports alternative app stores, bypassing the need for the Apple App Store or any other official app marketplace.
However, this isn't a completely unregulated market. Developers looking to offer downloadable apps on websites must go through Apple's notarization process. They must have been members of the Apple Developer Program for at least two consecutive years and be based in an EU country or have an EU subsidiary. Only apps that reached or exceeded 1 million installations in the previous year on EU iOS devices qualify for this distribution method.
So, while the walls of the "walled garden" have lowered, they still exist. The upside is that apps downloaded from websites can still be backed up, restored, and updated like any other.
When installing such an app, you'll see a system sheet displaying the app name, developer name, app description, and screenshots. You'll need to grant explicit permission to the developer to install the app. This feature is only available within the EU and only on iPhones.
For developers, the benefit lies in not having to share revenue from website-published apps with Apple Pay. However, this doesn't mean developers are entirely fee-free. Apple requires a "core technology fee" of 0.5 euros per installation exceeding one million in the past year. Fortunately, non-profits, educational institutions, and government entities are exempt from at least some of these fees.
