IOS 17.5 Sets the Stage for Sideloading Apps on IPhone
On Tuesday, Apple released the first beta version of iOS 17.5 to developers. With only about two months left until the first look at iOS 18 , it’s no surprise that there aren’t many user-related changes in this latest beta update.
However, iOS 17.5 will be another huge update for some iPhone users as Apple adds support for downloading apps from the internet. Once iOS 17.5 is officially released, you’ll be able to download apps on your iPhone while you live in the European Union.
Installing the app online (EU only)
When announced in March, iOS 17.5 will include the ability to download apps directly from developer websites rather than through the app store. This is the latest fundamental change Apple has made to its platform following a European Commission ruling that forced the company to allow developers to open their own third-party app stores, offer true third-party web browsers, and more.
If you don’t use iOS, downloading software from a website to use on your phone is nothing new. This practice, known as sideloading, is quite normal on Android and is, in fact, the primary way to get new apps for desktop operating systems like Windows, Linux and, yes, macOS.
Apple has resisted this practice on iPhones since the introduction of iOS, arguing that sideloading apps puts users at risk. While there is some truth to this, as the lack of oversight encourages attackers to trick users into installing malware, there are many legitimate apps that are not available on the official app store. If users are careful, they can download programs safely.
Apple being Apple, even after this change goes into effect, you won’t be able to just download any old app you want from the Internet: the company is placing restrictions on both the developers who can offer the service and the apps that can be sold. through the Internet. Additionally, developers will still have to offer a portion of their revenue to Apple, so the whole process won’t be much different from what happens on the App Store. Still, it’s a step in the right direction – at least for users in the EU. Nothing about Apple’s app download policy changes outside of Europe.
It’s worth clarifying that the launch of iOS 17.5 beta 1 does not launch app downloads, but it does give developers the opportunity to start creating those experiences. Web installation will likely not begin until the final version of iOS 17.5 is officially released in the near future. This means that even if you live in the EU, installing iOS 17.5 beta 1 will not yet load web apps on your iPhone.
Other new features in iOS 17.5
Other than the major EU-focused changes, the 17.5 update is minor, although there are a few new features worth noting . The Podcasts widget now changes color to reflect whatever you’re listening to, rather than the default purple color of the podcasts themselves, and the Privacy & Security menu has a new icon for the Access Passwords for Web Browsers menu.
9to5Mac also discovered code in iOS 17.5 that identifies unknown Bluetooth trackers and tells users how to disable them. This would be a useful security feature since trackers like AirTags have raised concerns that people could use them for stalking. This code assumes that iOS 17.5 will detect both Find My-enabled devices and third-party trackers; however, this feature is currently not active.