When some European users loaded the iOS 17.4 beta, they discovered that progressive web apps no longer worked, which they assumed was a problem. It turns out that Apple made this conscious move, as revealed on its Developer page.
Apple is dropping support for progressive web apps in the European Union, citing the bloc’s Digital Markets Act as the cause.
So, what are progressive web apps? They are websites that you can install as a shortcut to your homescreen as an app, but with additional features such as the ability to give you notifications, display notification badges, and save your sign-in information. They are based on Safari’s WebKit engine. The difficulty is that the EU’s DMA requires Apple to enable third-party browsers to use their own engines on iOS, which would imply that these progressive web apps may be built on any of those engines rather than WebKit.
According to Apple, making web apps compliant with the EU’s DMA requires a significant amount of labor that is impractical given web apps’ low user penetration. Apple also raises security concerns about progressive web apps built on alternative browser engines, pointing out that rogue programs might read data, recover permissions, and get access to a user’s camera, microphone, or location without their knowledge.
So, when iOS 17.4 is released to the public in March, users in the European Union will no longer have access to progressive web apps, but will instead be able to add basic browser bookmarks to their home screens, which will open in a new tab in their respective browser. They will not retain login information or be able to issue notifications.
Apple couldn’t have retained progressive web apps as a Safari-only option for EU iPhones since the DMA requires equal treatment for all browsers.
Here are some key points to know:
Why did Apple remove PWA support?
- Apple cites the EU’s Digital Markets Act (DMA) as the main reason. The DMA requires companies like Apple to open up their platforms to third-party browsers and engines. Implementing this would require significant changes to how PWAs work on iOS, which Apple claims would introduce security risks and be impractical due to low user adoption.
What does this mean for users?
- Users in the EU will no longer be able to add PWAs to their home screens as standalone apps.
- Existing PWAs might still be accessible through the browser but will lose features like push notifications and offline functionality.
What are the potential consequences?
- This decision has been met with criticism from developers and users who argue that it limits choice and innovation.
- It could also have implications for competition within the mobile app market.
- Some experts believe Apple might face legal challenges due to the DMA.
Is there anything else to know?
- The decision only affects the EU for now. Apple hasn’t announced plans to remove PWA support in other regions.
- The situation is still evolving, and it’s unclear what the long-term impact will be.
Stay tuned to WebArena360 for more updates.