Oliver Haslam·

Apple Will Add App Sideloading To iPhones In EU By 2024, Gurman Says

Apple’s getting ready to open the iPhone to sideloading as soon as the first half of 2024, according to a new report.

The move comes after months of rumors and expectations after the European Union confirmed that it would force Apple to allow third-party app stores if it didn’t do it of its own accord.

The latest report comes via Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, writing in the weekly Power On newsletter. Gurman says that Apple intends to allow sideloading of apps in the first half of 2024. The move will not only mean that apps won’t have to be installed via the App Store but will also ensure that Apple won’t get its cut of transactions as is currently the case.

That means it’s likely that Epic Games will be one of the first to launch its own iOS app store, bringing Fortnite back to the iPhone for the first time in years.

Epic famously bypassed Apple’s in-app purchase system to avoid giving it a cut of transactions and was kicked out of the App Store as a result.

However, it’s likely that Apple will only open up sideloading to iPhones that are used in the EU, something that could change in the future if international lawmakers decide to follow the European Commission’s lead and push for a similar capability in their countries.

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