What is app sideloading? The rumored iOS 17 feature explained
An Android staple becoming an iOS addition
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It recently came to light that the next major release of iOS might include the ability to sideload apps, something that Android users have been able to do for a while, but a practice that has formally been met with a lot of resistance fromApplein the past. So what is app sideloading and is it a good or bad thing for iOS users?
We recently reported on news thatiOS 17may grant users theability to finally sideload apps. This has the potential to open up thebest iPhonesto a far greater selection of apps, from more sources than has ever been possible, but there are associated risks that come with downloading and installing apps on your iPhone (or iPad) that haven’t been vetted by Apple.
We dive into the what and why app sideloading could appear in the next release of iOS.
App sideloading on iOS: What is it?
In the context of smartphones, sideloading is the act of installing a compatible application (or app) for the platform your device runs (by ‘platform’ that means Android, or – in this case – iOS), but one that isn’t necessarily available, approved or at least monitored and maintained by your device’s platform’s official app store.
Take a phone like theSamsung Galaxy S23as an example: it comes with two app stores natively: theGoogle Play Store(found on practically every Android smartphone and tablet) andSamsung’s own Galaxy Store (found on practically every Samsung Galaxy smartphone and tablet). In both cases, apps downloaded from either source should install without issue and, aside from asking for certain permissions from the user during setup, these apps should run faultlessly and update automatically.
You might want to sideload if you’re looking to run an older version of an available app that’s no longer accessible on your device’s native app store – perhaps because it doesn’t suffer from a poorly optimized update or offers a layout or features that differ from the latest release.
Sideloading also lets you more readily install apps not available in your app store’s geographical region; either apps that are written in another language or aren’t intended for your market (Facebook Lite wasn’t available in Europe but was in India, for example).
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On iOS, we’re yet to know just what sideloading an app will look like, but the closest experience currently available to iPhone users is when installing development builds of apps with the help ofApple’s official TestFlight app.
For current examples on Android, users can either download an alternative app store to whatever comes pre-installed on their device, with offerings like the Huawei AppGallery and theAmazonAppstore up for grabs. Apps with the .apk or .apkx file extensions can also be downloaded directly from websites that host them. Just check the validity and authenticity of what you’re downloading before you try and install them.
App sideloading on iOS: Why now?
In the past, Apple has been very vocal about its resistance to allowing sideloading on iOS. In mid October 2021, the company published a30-page paperwith the subheading ‘a threat analysis of sideloading.’ Later – in April last year – CEOTim Cook took to the podium at the IAPP Global Privacy Summit, to speak about the harm allowing sideloading on iOS could cause; including the risks it would expose users to.
In both instances, Apple’s protestations were in response to what has now become the Digital Markets Act (the DMA), enforced by the European Commission and set to go into effect in 2024.
In spite of Apple’s disdain over the ruling, it would seem that the company is already in the process of making changes to iOS in order to allow app sideloading (among other DMA-compliance adjustments), in much the same way that rumors point to this year’siPhone 15seriessporting USB-Cin place of Apple’s proprietary Lightning connector – another change that looks to be a direct result of EU intervention.
App sideloading on iOS: What are the upsides?
If you follow the EU’s reasoning as to why ‘Big Tech’ companies – including Apple – are being subjected to the DMA, according to Andreas Schwab of the European Parliament’s Internal Market and Consumer Protection Committee, “consumers will get the choice to use the core services of Big Tech companies such as browsers, search engines or messaging, and all that without losing control over their data. Above all, the law avoids any form of overregulation for small businesses. App developers will get completely new opportunities, small businesses will get more access to business-relevant data and the online advertising market will become fairer.”
Fairness and better opportunities for smaller business and app developers sounds good to us but in terms of the end-user (i.e. you) there are more tangible benefits to consider.
App sideloading on iOS: What are the downsides?
Of course, while it’s easy to see the benefits of opening up iOS to new app sources, the risks and pitfalls become just as visible. Some of the risks below are expressed by direct quotes from Apple’s 2021 report, mentioned earlier.
Alex joined as TechRadar’s Senior Phones Editor in June 2022, but brings over a decade’s worth of experience to the role, with an expertise in smartphones, tablets and wearables. He’s covered keynotes hosted by the biggest brands and attended the launches for some of the most influential mobile products of the last few years. His experience was amassed at some of the most reputable consumer technology publications out there, including GSMArena, TechAdvisor and Trusted Reviews.
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