Alternative app marketplaces

iOS 17.4 introduces support for third-party app marketplaces for devices in the European Union (EU). With the introduction of a special developer permission, third-party developers can now create their own alternative app marketplaces that can be downloaded and installed on devices running iOS 17.4 and later. Alternative app marketplaces offer a new distribution method for applications that allows users in the EU to download apps outside of Apple’s App Store.

Configuration via Relution restriction #

In the Restrictions configuration (iOS), the Apps area, section General, contains the option Allow alternative marketplace apps installations (iOS 17.4 and later). The option is enabled by default. If it is disabled, the device prevents the installation of alternative app marketplaces from the internet, and alternative app marketplaces that are already installed cannot install any apps.

The same section contains another option (iOS 17.5 and later) that controls whether apps may be installed directly from the web. This option is also enabled by default. All options of the configuration are described in Restrictions →.