New Digital Markets Act Enables Users in EU to Install Alternative App Marketplaces & Apps in iOS 17.4 or Later

Installing apps from alternative app marketplaces now possible in the European Union

A new opportunity amid changes brought by the Digital Markets Act

In the wake of the Digital Markets Act (DMA) reforms, users within the European Union (EU) now have the freedom to install alternative app marketplaces and access apps provided through these platforms using iOS 17.4 or any subsequent version. To take advantage of this advancement, you must ensure that your Apple ID’s country or region is set to one of the countries within the EU, and remember to physically be present in the European Union.

Apple’s revised on-device processing is employed to determine your device’s entitlement to access alternative app markets. Consequently, only an indicator of your eligibility is transmitted to Apple, as the company prioritizes your privacy and abstains from collecting your device’s location information.

If, for any reason, you find yourself no longer within the EU, the good news is that you may still use and enjoy the apps from alternative app marketplaces that you had previously installed. Notably, even after your departure from the European Union, alternative app markets can continue to provide app updates for a duration of up to 30 days, and you can continue utilizing these platforms to manage previously installed applications.