In the latest edition of his “Power On” newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman stated that Apple informed support personnel not to discuss the possibility of sideloading coming to other parts of the world.
EU’s Digital Markets Act forces Apple to allow sideloading
The EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires tech giants like Apple to open their ecosystems to promote competition. This includes allowing sideloading and enabling users to install apps outside the official App Store.
The DMA goes into effect on March 7, meaning Apple must roll out sideloading in the EU by that date — iOS 17.4 is expected to introduce the functionality in the coming weeks.
Sideloading has long been banned on iPhones outside of limited exceptions. Apple maintains tight control over its App Store to ensure security and quality. However, regulators argue the closed ecosystem stifles competition.
Apple unlikely to expand sideloading to other regions
While iPhone users worldwide may want freedoms similar to those granted in the EU, Apple does not plan to expand sideloading willingly.
The company has warned that enabling sideloading more broadly could undermine privacy and security. Malicious apps could bypass App Store protections.
It took the EU legislation to compel Apple to open iPhone sideloading there. Without external legal pressure, worldwide expansion is improbable.
Support staff queries expected
With EU iPhone users gaining new sideloading rights, Apple likely anticipates inquiries from customers elsewhere wondering if they, too, will get expanded capabilities.
By instructing support staff not to speculate on further sideloading rollouts, Apple aims to tamp down expectations and contain misinformation.
While Apple is adapting its iPhone software for the EU market, it has provided no signals that it intends to fundamentally change its controlled ecosystem approach for other regions.
Although Apple is opening up the iPhone to sideloading in the European Union, it won’t be available in most other markets. Therefore, iPhone users outside the EU should not expect sideloading to become a thing unless Apple changes its policy.