The new iPhone update, iOS 17.4, is finally here. You can read all the details about what’s in it here. But now it turns out that some of the biggest changes come with a catch. If you’re an EU user and like the alternative app markets that the update gives you access to, too long a trip might be a problem.
iOS 17.4 is here. But there is a catch.
These new markets are one of the biggest changes in iPhone history and allow users from the European Union to install apps from places other than the Apple App Store.
However, in a support document spotted by MacRumors outlining the situation, Apple warns that accessing these markets isn’t self-explanatory if you’re traveling.
In the section titled Availability in the European Union, it’s clear that this is a geographic matter: “The country or region of your Apple ID must be set to one of the countries or regions of the European Union, and you must be physically located in the European Union.”
That’s fine, but what if you’re on the go. The document continues: “If you leave the European Union for short-term travel, you will still have access to alternative application markets during the grace period. If you’re away for too long, you’ll lose access to some features, including installing new alternative app markets. Apps you installed from alternative app markets will continue to work, but cannot be updated by the market you downloaded them from.”
So the app you downloaded will still work after the grace period is over and you’re still outside the EU, but you won’t be able to update it.
There are a lot of ambiguities here. How long the wait is the most important question to answer. I mean, it probably won’t be two weeks or less—everyone wants to go on vacation, right?—but is it a month, a year, or what?
I’ve asked Apple for details and will update if I hear back.
These new markets are almost ready, and Mobivention in Germany is expected to launch the market on Thursday, March 7, the day the relevant laws come into force. MacPaw has its own, which is expected in April. Epic Games has announced plans for its own marketplace, but no date has been set.