Apple Plans Major Changes to its App Store for European Users

In the face of upcoming European Union regulations, Apple is gearing up to introduce sideloading support in the App Store within Europe, as stated by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. This move is an effort to comply with the stipulations of the impending Digital Markets Act (DMA), due by March 7. This change will mark a significant deviation from Apple's current practice, as outside App Store installations have not been supported previously in any region.

Gurman, in an exclusive edition of the weekly Power On newsletter, reveals Apple's intention to divide the App Store into two separate versions in the coming weeks. This strategic split is to adhere to the demands of the DMA, which necessitates that the edition curated for European users differs from the regular version available to users globally.

The DMA regulation obliges Apple to make provisions for users to sideload or install apps outside the App Store. This is a feature that has been available to Android users over the years through downloads and installations of Android package (APK) files. Further, the DMA mandates Apple to permit developers to display offers not available on the App Store and to integrate third-party payment mechanisms within their apps.

The anticipated move towards sideloading has received some prior predictions from Gurman last year. According to him, the company has been trying to allow users to sideload apps via a “highly controlled system,” ensuring that these apps pass stringent security checks prior to installations. Apple's speculations on the foreseen alterations to the App Store were also apparent in a Form 10-K filing with the US SEC in November 2020. This highlighted potential policy changes pertaining to access charges for developers, app distribution, and third-party billing communications.

Official confirmation of these upcoming changes from Apple is yet to be obtained. Such changes are anticipated to have an impact solely on the EU, with no worrying prospects of a spillover into regions without mandatory third-party app stores and sideloading. However, Apple may choose to expand access to the revamped version of its App Store globally if future laws require the same.