In the latest iOS 17.4 beta release, Apple has disabled progressive web apps (PWAs) in the European Union (EU), leaving users wondering why the web apps on their iPhones were no longer working. The iPhone maker says that it is because of the new rules around browsers in Europe’s Digital Markets Act (DMA).
Initially mistaken for a bug, the change was first spotted by researcher Tommy Mysk within the second iOS 17.4 beta. “The EU asked for alternative app stores and Apple took down web apps. Looks like the EU is going to rue the day they have asked Apple to comply with the #DMA rules,” he posted on X.
Apple confirmed that PWAs were intentionally removed and won’t be returning, despite some speculation that it could be a temporary change or a bug related to some of the updates to the app ecosystem in Europe. Apple has updated its website to explain why PWAs were no longer functional in the EU after installing the most recent iOS betas. The complexities involved with the DMA’s requirement to allow different browser engines is the root cause.
Web apps mimic native app behavior, offering features like dedicated windowing and notifications. However, European users opening web apps on their home screen may face prompts to open them in Safari, leading to data loss and notification issues.
Apple attributes this to a new DMA requirement mandating browser support beyond its WebKit architecture. Addressing security concerns associated with alternative browser engines would demand an entirely new integration architecture, impractical amidst DMA demands and low user adoption of Home Screen web apps. Thus, EU users are barred from Home Screen web apps due to security risks. Apple asserts that these apps, built on WebKit, maintain alignment with iOS’s privacy and security model, ensuring features like storage isolation and per-site privacy prompts.
Apple expressed regret for any consequences stemming from the change but said it was required “as part of the work to comply with the DMA.”
