Apple announces support for third-party iPhone app stores in the EU, coming with iOS 17.4 [Video]

The first beta of iOS 17.4 is coming today, and it makes big changes to the iPhone, the App Store, and more in the European Union.

Starting with iOS 17.4, Apple is opening the iPhone to what it calls “alternative app marketplaces” for the first time. Apple says this will “enable developers to offer their iOS apps for download from alternative app marketplaces and help protect their intellectual property.”

Apple’s changes come ahead of the March 7 deadline for Apple to comply with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union. As such, these changes only apply to iPhone users in the European Union.

Links from Apple:

• Apple Newsroom post
• Apple Developer update (1)
• Apple Developer update (2)

The headlining change in iOS 17.4 for users in the European Union is a new set of options for distributing iOS apps from alternative app marketplaces. This includes “new APIs and tools that enable developers to offer their iOS apps for download …