Apple allows sideloading apps in iPhone in some countries but not in India

In order to comply with the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) regulatory policy, Apple is making a bunch of changes to the App Store, along with some updates to the iPhone and iPad software with the upcoming iOS 17.4, one of which is allowing sideloading apps on iPhone.

In the 27 countries that are under the European Union, Apple has no choice but to roll out these changes in order to comply with the regulatory policies. 

Similar to how Apple rolled out Type-C charging ports in iPhone globally  which was also to comply with an EU ruling the Cupertino giant has a choice to rollout these iOS and App Store changes for the rest of the markets in the world as well, however, Apple is delibterately choosing not to.

Apple says that while it’s complying with EU’s decision, because it is practically being forced to do it, the changes can possibly pose a threat to users that it has so far prevented with its own policies. 

The company has also made it very clear that it hasn’t rolled out these policies by choice.

Apple executive Phil Schiller says that the company is trying to bring the changes will trying to protect the EU users from “unavoidable increased privacy and security threats this regulation brings”.