Apple is reversing its decision and bringing web apps back to the iPhone home screen in iOS 17.4
Early beta versions of iOS 17.4 suggested that Apple had removed web apps from the iPhone home screen in the European Union. Web applications or web applications are websites converted to apps via Safari. An unexpected change which sparked numerous criticisms.
A little later, Apple confirmed the removal of the function for creating web applications on the home screen… Fortunately, the company seems to have reconsidered its decision. Finally, web applications will be available in the European Union with the official launch of iOS 17.4which is expected for the first week of March.
Apple will bring web apps back to the Home screen in iOS 17.4, ensuring that they will “continue to offer existing Home screen web apps in the European Union.”
iPhone web apps will remain in iOS 17.4
Apple’s decision to remove web apps functionality from iOS 17.4 was linked to some requirements of the Digital Markets Act of the European Commission. Apparently, Apple considered that the function could be vulnerable to certain security and privacy issues.
At that time, an Apple representative indicated that “this would require the integration of a completely new structure that currently does not exist in iOS”. Apparently, there were privacy and security issues related to the new default web browsing apps in iOS 17.4.
How to Add a Web App to Your iPhone
Here is an excerpt from Apple’s statement:
“Previously, Apple announced plans to remove the ability to access web apps from the Home screen in the EU as part of our efforts to comply with the DMA. The need to remove this feature was due to Security and privacy issues associated with web applications to be supported Alternative browser engines that would require building a new integration architecture that does not currently exist on iOS.
We have received requests to continue offering support for home screen web apps on iOS. We will therefore continue to offer existing home screen web app features in the EU. This support means that Home screen web apps continue to build directly on WebKit and its security architecture, and align with the security and privacy model of native apps on iOS.
Remember that iOS 17.4 will also include access to alternative application stores to the App Store… a historic change which will be added to other new features such as the arrival of a new collection of emojis.
