EU users will be able to download apps from developers’ websites

iOS 17.4 is already among us and although it seemed that there would be no additional news regarding the Digital Markets Act, Apple has gone even further. In a new note on its developer website, it announced two exciting new features. However, the most relevant is that will allow developers to distribute their applications through their official websites without having to go through the App Store or alternative application markets. We explain all the details below.

Apple will let you download apps from official developer websites

In a new note published on the Apple Developer Portal, two relevant developments were announced regarding changes made in the European Union and iOS 17.4 to comply with the Digital Markets Act. The first of these is that will allow developers to create alternative app marketplaces where only apps from a specific developer are provided. In other words, a company could create an app store and only have its own apps. This couldn’t be done before when you had to access different apps from different developers.

And, on the other hand, Apple will allow EU users to install apps from official developer websites. That is, it will allow you to download applications without having to access the App Store or another alternative application store. This function called Web Application Distribution It will arrive with an API that makes the process easier throughout the spring of this year. Take a look at what Apple says:

Web Distribution, available in a software update later this spring, will allow authorized developers to distribute their iOS apps to users in the EU directly from a website owned and operated by the developer. Apple will provide access to APIs that will facilitate distribution of developer applications from the web, integration with system functionality, backup and recovery of user applications, and much more. Apps offered through Web Distribution must meet notarization requirements to protect the integrity of the platform, like all iOS apps, and can only be installed from a website domain that the developer has registered from the App Store.

Requirements to access the web distribution of applications

However, as with everything, the developer must meet a series of requirements to be able to distribute all your applications in this way. And these details are specified on the website created specifically for this purpose:

• Be registered with Apple Developer Program as an organization incorporated, domiciled or registered in the EU (or have a legal subsidiary incorporated, domiciled or registered in the EU listed on App Store Connect). The location associated with your legal entity appears in your Apple Developer account.
• Be active member of the Apple Developer Program for two or more consecutive years and have a application who had over a million first installs annually on iOS in the EU during the previous calendar year.

Additionally, Apple has included a series of sections in which the developer must agree, otherwise you wouldn’t be able to access the API or offer your applications this way. Among these conditions are:

• Only offer apps from your developer account.
• Respond to communications from Apple regarding its applications distributed through Web Distribution, including any fraudulent, malicious, or illegal behavior, or anything else that Apple believes affects user security or privacy.
• Publish transparent data collection policies and give users control over how their data is collected and used.
• Follow the applicable laws of the jurisdictions in which you operate (for example, the Digital Services Act, the General Data Protection Regulation and consumer protection laws).
• Be responsible for processing government and other requests to remove application listings.