The App Store is Changing in the EU
If you live in one of the 27 European Union countries, then you’re about to experience some big changes to how you can install apps on your iPhone. For starters, you’ll be able to download apps and games from alternative app marketplaces run by third-party companies and developers — including Epic Games. None of those app marketplaces are available just yet, but we should start seeing the first ones pop up soon.
That’s right; you no longer need to rely completely on the App Store to find all your apps. This is called sideloading, and it’s a powerful feature, although it can also be dangerous feature if you don’t know how to use it properly. Thankfully, Apple will still provide basic vetting of apps on these alternative app marketplaces to make sure they do what they claim to do and are free of viruses and malware.
Additionally, folks in the EU will also get a new message about third-party browsers. As soon as you’ve installed iOS 17.4 on your iPhone, you’ll be prompted to choose a new default browser right from the get-go. Even if you’re happy with Safari, the EU wants Apple to make sure you know you have other choices.
Another big change is that third-party wallet and payment apps can access your iPhone’s NFC chip for payments, letting banks opt out of Apple Pay and use their own apps for mobile payments instead.
Unfortunately, these changes won’t be coming to the rest of the world — even European countries that aren’t part of the EU are left out — since Apple is only doing this because of new laws in the EU. The rest of us will have to wait until Apple decides to expand these features or government regulators in other countries similarly force Apple to do so.