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Apple’s Web Distribution is real and already available to eligible developers and EU users. On compatible iPhones running iOS 17.5 or later, an authorized developer can offer its own notarized app from a registered website. This is a tightly controlled alternative to the App Store—not unrestricted downloading of arbitrary iPhone software, and not a worldwide feature.
What changed
The European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) requires gatekeepers to support effective app distribution through third-party app stores or the web. The European Commission’s explanation is available at digital-markets-act.ec.europa.eu/developer-portal/app-distribution_en.
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Apple announced its EU changes on January 25, 2024, and Web Distribution became available with iOS 17.5. iPads require iPadOS 18 or later. Apple says the installation experience was updated beginning with iOS 18.6 and iPadOS 18.6. The feature is limited to the European Union; it does not give US users the same website-installation route.
The phrase “for the first time in iOS history” needs qualification. This is the first Apple-supported, general-purpose way for eligible developers to distribute ordinary iOS apps directly from their websites without listing them in the App Store. Enterprise apps, ad hoc testing, TestFlight, custom business apps and jailbroken devices used other non-App-Store methods before it.
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- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
How Web Distribution works
- The developer builds the app and submits it to Apple’s notarization process.
- Apple provides signed distribution assets through App Store Connect.
- The developer registers its own website domain in App Store Connect and hosts the app there.
- An eligible EU user opens the genuine developer website and taps its installation link.
- iOS asks the user to approve that developer for web-based installation, then displays an Apple installation sheet.
- The user reviews the app information and confirms installation; the app appears on the Home Screen.
The installation sheet can show the app name, developer name, description, screenshots and age rating. Users can manage authorized developers and revoke authorization in Settings. Apple’s implementation details are documented at developer.apple.com/support/web-distribution-eu/ and developer.apple.com/support/alt-distribution-ux-in-the-eu/.
Why most developers cannot use it
Web Distribution is not an upload-anything facility. Apple’s current requirements include all of the following:
- An organization incorporated, domiciled or registered in the EU, or an eligible EU subsidiary listed in App Store Connect.
- At least two continuous years of Apple Developer Program membership in good standing.
- More than one million first annual installs in the EU during the prior calendar year.
- Acceptance of Apple’s Alternative Terms Addendum for Apps in the EU.
- Distribution only of apps from that developer’s own account.
- Responsibility for customer support, refunds, privacy disclosures, data handling and legal compliance.
The one-million-install threshold means the typical independent developer cannot simply place an IPA file on a website and obtain Apple’s supported installation flow.
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- This phone is unlocked and compatible with any carrier of choice on GSM and CDMA networks (e.g. AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, Verizon, US Cellular, Cricket, Metro, Tracfone, Mint Mobile, etc.).
- Please check with your carrier to verify compatibility.
- The device does not come with headphones or a SIM card. It does include a generic (Mfi certified) charging cable.
- Tested for battery health and guaranteed to have a minimum battery capacity of 80%.
Is a web-installed app reviewed?
Yes, but not in exactly the same way as an App Store app. Web-distributed apps must pass Apple notarization, which uses automated checks and human review to look for known malware and other security threats and to assess platform integrity. Apple describes the process at support.apple.com/en-gb/118110.
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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsNotarization is a baseline security review, not the full App Store review system. The App Store also applies broader content and commerce rules, so some categories that would not be accepted there may be available through alternative distribution. Apple’s consumer guidance is at support.apple.com/en-us/118128.
Notarization does not make every app harmless. A phishing site can imitate a developer, and a legitimate app can still request excessive permissions or provide poor support. Verify the domain, the developer identity shown in the installation sheet, the privacy policy and the support contact before approving an installation.
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- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
What users give up outside the App Store
- Family Purchase Sharing and Ask to Buy are not supported for alternative-distribution apps.
- Some Screen Time purchase restrictions may not apply to purchases made outside the App Store.
- Apple’s standard App Store refund and support workflows do not cover the transaction in the same way; the developer may handle refunds and support.
- Apple’s support for software installed outside the App Store is limited.
- If a developer or relevant marketplace stops operating, updates or app functionality may stop as well.
Before installing, ask who provides refunds, where updates come from, whether the website is likely to remain online and what happens if the developer loses eligibility or ends Web Distribution. Installation is not a guarantee of permanent availability.
How Web Distribution differs from an alternative marketplace
| Feature | App Store | Alternative marketplace | Web Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| Operator | Apple | Third-party marketplace | Individual developer |
| App source | Apple’s catalog | Marketplace catalog | Developer’s own website |
| Apple checks | Notarization plus App Review | Notarization applies | Notarization applies |
| Multiple developers | Yes | Usually | No; only that developer’s apps |
| Website registration | Not applicable | Marketplace domain requirements | Developer domain must be registered in App Store Connect |
| Apple support | Full App Store workflows | Limited | Limited |
| Geographic scope of this EU system | Worldwide App Store | EU implementation | EU implementation |
How to block website-based installations
Parents or administrators can disable Web installations through Screen Time:
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- Open Settings.
- Tap Screen Time.
- Open Content & Privacy Restrictions and enable restrictions if needed.
- Tap App Installations & Purchases.
- Set Web to Don’t Allow.
The same section can restrict alternative app marketplaces. Apple says existing Screen Time settings are not necessarily converted automatically after an iOS update, so check these controls explicitly. See Apple’s guidance.
Rank #4
- 6.1inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
Apple’s fees and the developer economics
Alternative distribution does not mean zero Apple fees. Apple’s EU business terms are transitioning from the older Core Technology Fee (CTF) to a Core Technology Commission (CTC) beginning January 1, 2026. Older documentation describes a €0.50 charge for each first annual install above one million under the CTF structure, with one million first annual installs included annually across qualifying distribution routes. Apple’s newer terms describe the CTC for qualifying digital goods and services and may identify it separately or as part of another commission.
The exact obligation depends on the developer’s selected EU business terms, distribution route and transaction type. Developers should consult Apple’s current documentation at developer.apple.com/support/dma-and-apps-in-the-eu/ and Apple’s commissions, fees and taxes page.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why Apple and the EU disagree about the change
The EU’s position is that competition requires developers to reach users without depending on one company’s store and ranking system. Apple says opening distribution increases risks from malware, fraud, scams, harmful content and privacy abuse. Its response combines notarization, registered domains, installation disclosures, developer authorization and operating-system controls.
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- 6.7inch Super Retina XDR display. Aluminum with color-infused glass back. Ring/Silent switch
- Dynamic Island. A magical way to interact with iPhone. A16 Bionic chip with 5-core GPU
- Advanced dual-camera system. 48MP Main | Ultra Wide. Super-high-resolution photos (24MP and 48MP). Next-generation portraits with Focus and Depth Control. 4X optical zoom range
- Emergency SOS via satellite. Crash Detection. Roadside Assistance via satellite
- Up to 26 hours video playback. USB C, Supports USB 2. Face ID
That compromise leaves Apple with significant control: it still determines eligibility, notarization, authorization mechanisms and the system’s enforcement. The App Store is no longer the only route in the EU, but the iPhone is not an unrestricted sideloading platform.
Common problems and what they mean
The installation link is missing
Check the iOS version, EU eligibility, the developer’s authorization, the registered domain, notarization status and the Screen Time Web setting.
The developer name looks unfamiliar
Stop and verify the domain independently. Treat the installation sheet as a checkpoint, not proof that the app is trustworthy.
The app no longer updates
The developer may have lost eligibility, ended Web Distribution, taken its site offline or faced a security action. Revoking authorization can also affect future updates.
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That can be expected because alternative-distribution apps do not receive all App Store purchase, refund and family features.
Bottom line
EU iPhone users gain a second legitimate installation route, but only for apps from authorized developers that meet demanding Apple requirements and pass notarization. Web Distribution is a significant regulatory change—not a free-for-all, not unrestricted sideloading and not a worldwide iOS feature.
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