As a user in the European Union, you can decide for yourself how to download applications on your iPhone or iPad (from iPadOS 18). The mandatory use of the Apple App Store is no longer necessary. Apple has made it extra difficult for other platforms, a good example is the installation confirmations.
When you download an application from an alternative app marketplace, you will see a pop-up notification before downloading that ‘warns’ you that you are installing an application from a platform other than the App Store. You can disable these installation confirmations for apps.
Sideloading and Alternative App Store
Sideloading applications is the process of installing an application on a mobile device or computer without using the manufacturer’s official app store. Sideloading is installing an app from a source outside of Apple’s official App Store.
This can be done by downloading an app from a third-party website, using a USB connection to a computer, or by installing an app from another app that has access to the installation files, alternative app marketplaces or app stores.
Since March 5, 2024, it is possible to install alternative app stores on your iPhone. This requires a lot of effort from app developers and companies that want to offer such an App Store. For example, they have to comply with all kinds of rules and it is not yet profitable for some companies to offer an app store. Nevertheless, there are already a number of developers and companies that have announced their alternative App Store. In the highlighted article below you can read more about alternative app stores and sideloading.
Disable installation confirmations for apps
As soon as you use an alternative app marketplace or app store, you will be faced with additional pop-up notifications that ‘warn’ you. Every time you want to download an app, you will receive an installation confirmation and you will have to confirm the download and installation. You can disable this by following the steps below. Please note, only do this for app stores that you trust.
- Open Settings
- Navigate to ‘App installation’
- Tap on the app store under ‘App Marketplaces’
- Disable the ‘Show installation confirmations’ option
Now, when you want to download and install an application, it is enough to complete the confirmation in the app marketplace. The pop-up notification from Apple itself will be skipped from now on.