Apple released the first development beta for iOS 17.5 on Tuesday. Since we’re only about two months away from our first look at iOS 18, it’s no surprise that there aren’t many user-related changes in this latest beta update.
However, iOS 17.5 will be another monumental update for some iPhone users, as Apple adds support for downloading apps from the web. Once iOS 17.5 is officially out, you’ll be able to sideload apps on your iPhone—as long as you live in the European Union.
Installing the application via the web (EU only)
After being announced in March, iOS 17.5 will introduce the ability to download apps directly from developer websites, as opposed to using the app store. It’s the latest major change Apple has made to its platform following European Commission rulings that forced the company to allow developers to run their own third-party app stores, offer real third-party web browsers and more.
If you don’t use iOS, downloading software from a website to use on your phone is not a new experience. The practice, known as sideloading, is completely normal on Android and is essentially a common way to get new apps on desktop operating systems like Windows, Linux, and, yes, macOS.
Apple has resisted the practice on the iPhone since the beginning of iOS, arguing that sideloading puts users at risk. While there is some truth to this, since the lack of oversight invites bad actors to trick users into installing malware, there are many legitimate apps that do not exist in the official app store. As long as users are careful, they you should be able to download programs safely.
Apple being Apple, even after this change is implemented, you won’t be able to just download any old app from the Internet you want: the company places restrictions on both the developers who can offer this service and the apps that can be sold online. In addition, developers will still have to offer a portion of their earnings to Apple, so the whole process will not be so far removed from what happens in the App Store. Still, it’s a step in the right direction – for EU users, anyway. Nothing about Apple’s app download policies changes outside of Europe.
It’s worth clarifying that the iOS 17.5 beta 1 launch doesn’t trigger app downloads, but it does offer developers a chance to start building the experience. The web installation will likely not begin until the final version of iOS 17.5 is officially released in the near future. This means that even if you live in the EU, installing iOS 17.5 beta 1 will not yet bring the web app download to your iPhone.
Other new features of iOS 17.5
Aside from the big EU-centric changes, the 17.5 update is smaller, though there are a few new features to check out. The Podcasts widget will now change its color to reflect whatever you’re listening to, instead of the default purple color of the Podcast itself, and there’s a new icon for Passwords for accessing web browsers menu in Privacy and security.
9to5Mac also discovered code in iOS 17.5 that identifies unknown bluetooth trackers and guides users through how to disable them. This would be a welcome security feature as trackers like AirTags have raised concerns that people could use them to stalk. This code suggests that iOS 17.5 could detect both Find My-enabled devices and third-party tracking programs; however, the feature is currently inactive.