Starting with iOS 17.5 we can install applications on the iPhone directly from a website
A few weeks ago Apple made official the sideloading on the iPhone, a way to install applications directly from a web page without having to go through the App Store or an alternative application store. AND This function is already active in the second beta of iOS 17.5which indicates that in just a few weeks it will reach all users.
Apple has updated their developer website showing new information about this new way to download apps on iPhone. Web distribution offers developers in the European Union the possibility of offering their applications for download directly from their website.
Sideloading on iPhone starting with iOS 17.5
This function It will only be available in Europe since it is the only one that has regulated the way of installing applications on the iPhone, forcing Apple to offer alternatives through the Digital Markets Law. And now Apple has offered more details.
The first thing to note is that to use web distribution, developers will have to opt-in to the new App Store terms of trade, which means They must benefit from the basic technology rate of 0.50 euros for each installation that exceeds one million in the last 12 months. That is, if your app is downloaded 1 million times you will not have to pay anything, but if it is downloaded 1,100,000 times you will have to pay 0.5 euros for those last 100,000 downloads.
Any application distributed through a developer’s website must comply with Apple notarization guidelines. Apps can only be installed from a website domain that the developer has registered with App Store Connect.
Web distribution allows authorized developers to distribute their iOS applications to users in the European Union (EU) directly from a website owned by the developer. Apple will provide developers with access to APIs that make it easy to distribute their apps from the web, integrate with system functionality, and backup and restore users’ apps, once they meet certain requirements designed to help to protect users and the integrity of the platform.
When we download an app from a website, they will appear a series of information screens so that users are clear that that developer is registered and so that we confirm that we want to download that application. we must confirm it by identifying ourselves using Face ID to give permission to that developer to install applications on our iPhone. We will only have to give permission the first time.
The Apple notarization will allow users to see information about the app and how it works. This includes things like the app name, developer name, app description, app screenshots, and age rating.