Are you traveling outside Europe anytime soon? If so, you’ll have to return after 30 days to receive the latest versions of apps downloaded from third-party app stores.
Apple’s latest business changes, part of its compliance with the Digital Markets Act in the European Union (EU), will inconvenience frequent travelers in the region unless they choose to continue downloading their apps exclusively from the App Store.
Apple’s support page about alternative app marketplaces in the EU states that third-party marketplaces will stop working if you leave the EU for more than 30 days.
When do alternative app stores stop updating iPhone apps?
Apps you previously installed from alternative app stores will continue working as usual but they won’t automatically update after 30 days.
You can continue using alternative app marketplaces to manage previously installed apps but as Apple spells it out, “you must be in the EU to install alternative app marketplaces and new apps from alternative app marketplaces.”
The previous version of this support document used a bit ambiguous wording, confusing people. It said that folks leaving the EU “for short-term travel” would “lose access to some features” without specifying the cut-off threshold.
How long is “too long”?
“If you’re gone for too long, you’ll lose access to some features, including installing new alternative app marketplaces,” the page originally read. But Apple has now updated it with information clarifying how long “too long” really is.
Sideloading and third-party marketplaces are restricted to people who live in one of the 27 member countries that comprise the EU. You cannot install alternative marketplaces unless your iPhone is running iOS 17.4 or later, you’re physically located in the EU and your Apple ID region is set to one of the EU countries.
Third-party app stores are coming to iPhone
Several app marketplaces will launch on iPhones in the EU, including the enterprise app store Mobivention in March and MacPaw’s Setapp Mobile store in April.
Epic was supposed to bring its Games Store to iPhone but won’t because Apple has revoked its developer license in the EU. At least Epic might still be able to bring Fortnite to gamers in the EU via one of the alternative app stores.
Some platform features are unsupported in apps downloaded from alternative app stores, including In-App Purchase restrictions in Screen Time, purchase sharing via Family Sharing and Ask to Buy. Moreover, Apple does not provide assistance for problems encountered in apps downloaded from alternative marketplaces.