Apple is withdrawing a controversial plan to disable iOS web apps in the EU, as part of an upcoming software update.
Web apps are icons that you can save to your iOS home screen in the absence of a native app from the App Store. They are actually a bookmark for a Safari web page that you can store for easy access.
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However, since iOS 17.4 brings big changes for users in the European Union to meet new Digital Markets Act laws, Apple has planned to disable web apps as well.
However, the company said that requests and up to 500 complaints from its user base resulted in the turnaround, which will allow web apps to return to the operating system in time for iOS 17.4, which will be released within the next week. They’re only gone from beta versions so EU users won’t notice the difference.
“We’ve received requests to continue offering support for web apps on the home screen in iOS, so we’ll continue to offer existing web apps capabilities on the home screen in the EU,” the company said (via the FT ).
“The EU can expect the return of existing functionality for web apps on the home screen with the availability of iOS 17.4 in early March.”
Interestingly, the EU said it didn’t want Apple to give up web apps at all and complained about Apple’s efforts to characterize the move as such.
“Contrary to Apple’s public representation, the removal of iOS home screen web apps in the EU was neither necessary nor justified under the Digital Markets Act,” a European Commission spokesperson said.
iOS 17.4 will bring other big changes only for iPhone users in the European Union. This includes the ability to legally download a developer’s app from an app store or third-party website. These markets can even be set as the default store on the device.