In case you missed it, Apple app sideloading is now a thing, all thanks to the EU Digital Markets Act. With the release of iOS 17.4 and iPad OS 17.4, users in the EU can now download and install apps from app stores other than Apple’s own. However, as the manufacturer made it very clear during the official announcement, it’s only applicable to the EU.
That made many of us wonder, what if users initially stayed in the EU and then shifted to another region after getting the app sideloading privilege? We already know that users will lose the ability to sideload more apps in such cases. But what about the ability to update the already installed apps? Apple has clarified things.
The Grace Period for Apple App Sideloading Is 30 Days
Apple has published a support page for app sideloading in the EU. This support page is for users who can download and install apps from alternative app marketplaces. However, as mentioned earlier, this option is only available for users within the EU.
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If they happen to venture outside of the EU after sideloading apps in their Apple device, they will have a grace period. After this, these users who have enjoyed the app sideloading will lose access to some features. That includes updating the sideloaded apps from the third-party app stores.
Apple has clarified that the grace period is for 30 days. That means if you go outside of the EU after sideloading app, you can only update the app within 30 days. After that, you can’t update the sideloaded app from the third-party store anymore. But the good news is that the apps will continue to work even when you’re outside the eligible region. You can learn more from the support page found in this link. And to learn more about the Digital Markets Act and how it led to Apple making this decision, read our in-depth coverage found in this link.
