Since the release of the iPhone, Apple has been against sideloading software onto its devices, but this may soon change. In fact, the next iOS 17 will make it possible to do precisely that, claimed by Apple analyst Mark Gurman.
It’s possible that iOS 17 will allow sideloading of applications. But don’t hold your breath just yet because this hasn’t been confirmed. The impending iOS 17 might pave the way for sideloading later on. On the other hand, the EU’s new Digital Market Act, which mandates businesses to permit consumers to install software from alternate sources, is set to take effect in 2024, so there’s a fair possibility the change will arrive with iOS 17.
Apple would have to permit customers to download apps from app shops other than its own official App Store if it wanted to comply.
We wonder how Apple handles this given that privacy and security concerns are the reason they won’t support sideloading. At the business’s yearly WWDC conference, where watchOS is rumoured to steal the show with significant upgrades, we will learn more about this.
