Alternative iOS App Stores Only Work for 'Grace Period' When Traveling Outside of EU

[MacRumors]

With the release of iOS 17.4, iPhone users in the European Union can access third-party app stores, but Apple warns that EU users traveling outside of the bloc will only have a "grace period" before some features stop working altogether when they're away.

From Apple's support document detailing alternative app marketplaces:

If you leave the European Union for short-term travel, you'll continue to have access to alternative app marketplaces for a grace period. If you're gone for too long, you'll lose access to some features, including installing new alternative app marketplaces. Apps you installed from alternative app marketplaces will continue to function, but they can't be updated by the marketplace you downloaded them from.

We've contacted Apple for clarification on the duration of this "grace period" and are waiting to hear back.

Apple is allowing iPhone users in the EU access to alternative app stores in order to comply with the regulatory framework of the Digital Markets Act, which comes into effect for all 27 countries included in the bloc on March 7. The change means users can download apps from marketplaces outside of Apple's own App Store for the first time.

In iOS 17.4, EU users concerned with the potential privacy, safety, and security risks of alternative app marketplaces can set their preferred alternative app store as the default App Store on their device via Settings. A Screen Time setting also allows parents to decide whether their children's devices are able to install apps from alternative app marketplaces.

To gain access to alternative app marketplaces, the country or region of a user's Apple ID must be set to one of the countries or regions of the EU, and they must be physically located in the EU. Apple says device eligibility for access to alternative app marketplaces is determined by using on-device processing, with only an indicator of eligibility sent to Apple. To preserve user privacy, Apple does not collect a device's location.

The first alternative app marketplace will launch in the EU this week. German IT service provider Mobivention will launch its corporate-focused Mobivention App Marketplace on Thursday. MacPaw has also announced it will offer an alternative app marketplace sometime in April, while Epic Games also has plans to launch one.

For additional details about changes to the App Store and more in the EU, read our previous coverage. The changes do not apply outside of the EU, nor do they apply to iPadOS in any country.

Article Link: Alternative iOS App Stores Only Work for 'Grace Period' When Traveling Outside of EU

 

[markfc]

Bravo Apple! If you don’t want alternative App Stores, just say! 😂

 

[krspkbl]

They are desperately trying hard to do the absolute bare minimum. Pathetic.

Hopefully other countries force them to add alternative stores.

 

[Mrkevinfinnerty]

They make 90's Microsoft look like the care bears.

 

[krspkbl]

This behaviour from Apple is making me consider not buying an iPhone when it's time to upgrade.

 

[mciarlo]

This feels like a lot of needless complexity. I’d hate to be the developers working on these features.

 

[kemal]

Way to encourage customers to stay with Apple, Apple.

 

[treacher]

This behaviour from Apple is making me consider not buying an iPhone when it's time to upgrade.

Already beat you to it. 20-year Apple user here; tossed it all. Their true colors are loudly on display these past few years.

 

[DesiMunda]

We don’t need any 3rd party crapstores to begin with. We don’t want IOS to become next android bloat full of malware and viruses.

 

[chriscl]

Could they get any more pissy about this?

 

[wilhoitm]

Guys it is all about Security! The EU is not a tech company and they should not be picking winners and losers! I would like to see the EU try to produce their own smart phone!

 

[MLVC]

LOL! That's actually hilarious (and I say that as a EU citizen)

 

[rorschach]

Makes sense to me. EU laws don’t apply outside of the EU.

 

[j26]

The lack of ability to update apps while not in the EU is not good enough. It introduces a security hole, as security updates will be parked until the person returns to the EU.

This will affect tens of thousands of cross-border workers, and students like my daughter who is from Ireland, but goes to college in the UK. Ireland is not the only country with a land border with non-EU countries, or who imports/exports students. There will be many people adversely affected by this.

And this from a company that's supposed to be all in on security!

 

[Jarutais]

This is a mess

 

[Naildown]

Tell the EU you want them to crack down harder on you without telling them you want them to crack down harder on you. Delivering an absolutely **** user experience just pisses off your users Apple... and eventually the EU will call out your tantrum.

 

[scorpio vega]

They are desperately trying hard to do the absolute bare minimum. Pathetic.

Hopefully other countries force them to add alternative stores.

Hopefully not

 

[iZac]

Time to set up my Irish Apple ID and Dublin based VPN ?

 

[wanha]

Already beat you to it. 20-year Apple user here; tossed it all. Their true colors are loudly on display these past few years.

curious... why do you keep coming to Macrumors and commenting if you no longer have any Apple devices?

 

[scorpio vega]

Tell the EU you want them to crack down harder on you without telling them you want them to crack down harder on you. Delivering an absolutely **** user experience just pisses off your users Apple... and eventually the EU will call out your tantrum.

How? They are complying with the EU draconian policies. They are not obligated outside US.

you guys wanted apple to be open like android. You got your wish. Like android, IOS is fragmented.

 

[Vlad Soare]

Way to encourage customers to stay with Apple, Apple.

Actually, this does encourage me to stay with Apple. Not that I had any plans not to.
I hate those stupid, useless eurocrats who get to decide what colour my toilet paper must be, or which hand I am allowed to use to scratch my nose, or how many times a day I am allowed to sneeze.
I bought an iPhone knowing full well how its app store worked. If I hadn't liked it, I wouldn't have bought it. I don't need a fat politician to appoint himself as my nanny and decide what I should or should not install on my own device.
So, the harder Apple fight against this, the more difficult they make this feature to use, the more I like them.

 

[scorpio vega]

curious... why do you keep coming to Macrumors and commenting if you no longer have any Apple devices?

To complain about how terrible Apple is and validate their android purchase, of course.

 

[icanhazmac]

Good, if you want to go out on a limb, stay on it.

 

[scorpio vega]

Way to encourage customers to stay with Apple, Apple.

Does not affect me or most iOS users so im fine with apple.

 

[Neg4433]

We don’t need any 3rd party crapstores to begin with. We don’t want IOS to become next android bloat full of malware and viruses.

So installing Emulators, other software like AdGuard to have Ad Blocking Systemwise and not only in Safari and other Apps that in Apple's opinion are not good enough for their Business Model will be malicious in your opinion? Just curious, are you installing all your software through the AppStore on your Mac? In the end nobody forces you to install an application outside of Apple's AppStore. As a consumer and developer, I like having the freedom of choice.