Apple recently released iOS 17.4 beta to comply with the European Union’s Digital Market (DMA) antitrust legislation, which forced the company to allow alternative app stores on the iPhone. The update also brings some changes related to web browsers – but also some bad news. EU users who installed the beta version noticed that they could no longer install and run web apps on their iPhone.
Web apps no longer work for iPhone users in the EU
From the very beginning, Apple has allowed users to add web pages to the iPhone home screen, so they can be used as web apps. Over the past few years, Apple has added many features to improve support for web applications. For example, iOS 16.4 allowed PWAs to deliver push notifications with icon badges.
But all those improvements seem to have disappeared now – at least for those in Europe. As noted by the developer Maximiliano FirmmaniOS 17.4 beta removes support for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) from the system for users located in the EU.
Initially, Firtman believed that PWAs did not work in the iOS 17.4 beta due to a bug. However, with the release of iOS 17.4 beta 2 earlier this week, the system now displays a warning telling users that web apps will “open from your default browser from now on.” Although you can still add web pages to the iPhone home screen, they simply open in the user’s default web browser.
This has many consequences for users. For example, all data stored by these web applications is automatically deleted with the update. Websites can also no longer send push notifications to users.
iOS 17.4 and DMA
Apple has yet to comment on these changes, but they appear to be DMA-related. One of the requirements set by the new EU legislation is that Apple must allow developers to create web browsers with their own engine. Currently, every web browser available on iOS must be based on Apple’s WebKit.
As a result, iOS 17.4 not only allows developers to publish web browsers with alternative engines in the EU, but the system now asks which web browser the user wants by default. However, since web apps are also based on Safari and WebKit, Apple may have decided to remove PWAs in the EU to avoid being accused of continuing to use its own engine.
At this point, it’s still unclear whether Apple will come up with a workaround or whether PWAs will be a thing of the past for those living in the EU.
iOS 17.4 is expected to be released to the public in the first week of March.
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