iOS 17 beta didn’t bring sideloading, but Apple still plans to comply with EU

While Apple didn’t bring the ability to sideload apps with the first beta of its latest operating system iOS 17, the tech giant is still planning to comply with the new European Union requirements.

Bloomberg’s tech reporter Mark Gurman wrote in April that the iPhone-maker was getting ready to start allowing European users to sideload apps from third-party sources, something it has long opposed. Gurman said at the time that the company was laying the groundwork for sideloading so that it would comply with the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).

Apple’s annual Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) took place last week, where the company shared its latest updates, including its new VR headset Apple Vision Pro, iOS 17, new features that will be released with it later this year including Sensitive Content Warning, new App Store privacy features, and also the winners of 2023 Apple Design Awards. But the company didn’t mention sideloading during the event that lasted for five days.

However, when asked about the issue during John Gruber’s “The Talk Show” after the conference, Craig Federighi, Apple’s Senior Vice President of Software Engineering, said that Apple is working with the European Union to discuss the compliance.

“We want to make sure that whatever we do is the right thing for our customers,” said Federighi.