Apple is set to allow third-party app stores on the iPad, beginning on September 16, with the release of Apple iPads OS 18. This is a significant change for Apple, as the company has long restricted the installation of apps to its official App Store. The move comes in response to the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), which is designed to promote fairness and competition in digital markets.
The DMA targets large tech companies deemed “gatekeepers,” meaning they control essential platforms and services. Last year, the European Commission identified Apple as one of these gatekeepers and specifically pointed to three of its products: iOS (the mobile operating system for iPhones), the App Store (Apple’s app distribution platform), and Safari (Apple’s web browser).
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In April, the Commission also added Apple iPads OS to this list, stating that despite Apple iPads OS not reaching the user threshold to be fully covered by the DMA, Apple’s strong control over business users on the platform justified the move.
Apple was given six months to comply with the new regulations and update iPadOS. This brings us to the upcoming Apple iPads OS 18, where users in the EU will now have the option to install apps from third-party stores. Web browser developers will also be able to release browsers for Apple iPads using their own browser engines, rather than being restricted to Apple’s WebKit, which powers all browsers on the platform today.
Looking at iOS as a comparison, five third-party app stores are already available in the EU. One notable example is the AltStore PAL, which offers apps like video game emulators, virtual machine tools, and torrenting apps that are not available on the official App Store.
Although Apple still requires all apps to be notarized for security reasons, and developers must sign new agreements that include paying a “Core Technology Fee” to Apple once they reach a certain threshold, these stores offer an alternative route for app developers and users alike.
Epic Games has also taken advantage of these new rules, launching an alternative iOS app store in the EU. This store allows users to download popular games like Fortnite, Rocket League Sideswipe, and Fall Guys. Epic Games has announced its intention to bring these games to the Apple iPads as well.
While third-party browsers like Chrome and Firefox have long been available on Apple devices, they have been forced to use Apple’s WebKit engine. With the DMA now in place, it’s possible that we may see new browsers with their own engines specifically for European users in the future.
