Apple admits to intentionally breaking iPhone web apps in the EU

In the EU, it turns out it’s not a bug that breaks iPhone web apps, also known as progressive web apps (PWAs). Following developer complaints and reports that his PWA no longer works in the EU after installing the latest iOS beta, Apple has updated his website to explain why. Unsurprisingly, the tech giant blames this change on a new EU regulation, the Digital Markets Act, stating that the complexities involved in his DMA’s requirement to allow different browser engines are fundamental. states that it is the cause.

On a side note, security researcher Tommy Mysk and Open Web Advocacy first noticed that PWAs were demoted to website shortcuts in the second beta release of iOS 17.4. Initially, it was unclear whether this was a beta bug, something strange had happened, or whether he intended to undermine the functionality of PWAs in the EU. In the EU market, Apple currently offers alternative app stores, third-party payments, alternative browser engines, etc. PWAs, which typically allow web apps to function and interact like native iOS apps, no longer work in beta. Developers have noticed that these web apps open like bookmarks saved to your home screen.

As MacRumors noted at the time, this means there’s no “dedicated windowing, notifications, or long-term local storage.” iOS 16.4 also allowed PWAs to badge their icons with notifications, similar to native apps. An iOS 17.4 Beta user reported that while running iOS Beta, when he opens a web app, the system asks him if he wants to open the app in Safari or cancel it. The message indicates that the web app will “open in your default browser from now on.” Users then reported that they encountered data loss issues as Safari website shortcuts do not provide local storage. Notifications also stopped working.

Still, we had to be cautious about whether this change was intentional. TechCrunch staffers repeatedly reached out to Apple for comment, but did not receive a response. (We wanted to know if the company would confirm whether this was a beta bug or an intentional change, and if the latter, why Apple would do so.) After the next beta release went live, The Verge published a report indicating that Apple: “looks like” Even after breaking the EU’s PWA, we are unlikely to get an official response from the tech giants.

Well, Apple responded in its own way. Today, we have updated our website detailing DMA-related changes in the EU to address this issue. In a new update, the company explains that it had to make so many changes to iOS to comply with EU guidelines that continued support for PWAs was never considered.

Traditionally, iOS systems have provided support for home screen web apps by building directly on WebKit (Safari’s browser engine) and its security architecture, Apple said. This allowed web apps to adhere to the same security and privacy model as other native apps. However, DMA forces Apple to allow alternative browser engines. Without the isolation and enforcement of rules that apply to WebKit-based web apps, actions such as reading data from other web apps or “accessing a user’s camera, microphone, or location without accessing them” It claims that malicious apps can be installed that do the following: User Consent,” Apple said.

“Using alternative browser engines to address the complex security and privacy issues associated with web apps requires building an entirely new integration architecture that doesn’t currently exist in iOS, and addressing DMA’s other demands and user It wasn’t practical to run a home screen web app considering the very low adoption rate for it. “Therefore, in order to comply with DMA requirements, we had to remove the home screen web app functionality in the EU,” he said on his website.

The company informed EU users that as a result of the change they would be able to access websites from their home screens via bookmarks, confirming developers’ concerns that PWAs were effectively disabled in the EU.

“We expect this change to impact a small number of users. Nevertheless, this change, made as part of our efforts to become DMA compliant, may impact Home Screen web app developers and users. “We regret that this is the case,” Apple said.

critic have claimed Apple’s desire to retain power in the iOS app ecosystem was so strong that it could potentially break the functionality of web apps for users of its devices. Apple’s defenders, on the other hand, will likely argue that the company’s explanation is reasonable and consistent with Apple’s desire to keep iOS secure for users. The truth is probably somewhere in between.

Apple has not yet responded to a request for comment.