close
close

Side-charging for iPads coming to the EU on September 16

Posted on by darion

Apple has announced that the sideloading feature will be available to European iPad users with iPadOS 18, which is due out on September 16. Apple’s tablets will then be available after the iPhone, six months after the company was forced to change some regulations in the European Union due to the Digital Markets Act.

According to the developer’s blog post, there are a few changes to look out for starting September 16:

  • EU users can download iPadOS apps from the App Store and through alternative distribution. As mentioned in May, if you have signed up for the EU Alternative App Terms Addendum, your first annual iPadOS installs will begin accruing and the lower App Store commission rate will apply.
  • You can use alternative browser engines in iPadOS apps.
  • Historical app install reports from App Store Connect that can be used in our pricing calculator cover iPadOS.

For European users, the following changes will occur after installing the iPad version:

  • Third Party Payments: Developers can offer third-party payment systems, and users can use other wallets
  • Browser selection: Users can choose other browsers as their primary option when configuring iPad
  • External markets: iPad users can download third-party apps and stores on their iPads, including the Epic Games Store and Fortnite.

iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 will feature a new Default Apps section in Settings that lists all the default apps available to users. Apple says future updates will offer users new default settings for dialing phones, sending messages, translating text, navigation, managing passwords, keyboards, and spam call filters.

More iPhone changes in the EUImage Source: Apple Inc.

Apple also revealed that EU users will be able to remove the App Store, Messages, Photos, Camera, and Safari apps. Currently, users can remove some default apps, but removing Messages, the App Store, and others is impossible, as Apple says doing so would break integration with the system. It appears that Apple has found a way to separate these apps from the system.

Apple also recently changed its rules regarding the App Store and third-party marketplaces for European users, and more changes could follow. The company may have to stop charging the Core Technology Fee that developers must pay if they decide to offer their apps outside of the App Store.