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Apple backtracks on plans to get rid of web apps on iPhones in the EU

Apple has walked back its decision to remove home screen web apps in the European Union (EU). After initially blaming its decision to ditch them on the Digital Markets Act’s (DMA) requirement to support non-WebKit browsers, Apple now says European users will get them back when iOS 17.4 arrives early this month.

“Addressing the complex security and privacy concerns associated with web apps using alternative browser engines would require building an entirely new integration architecture that does not currently exist in iOS and was not practical to undertake given the other demands of the DMA and the very low user adoption of Home Screen web apps,” the company wrote in February. Instead, the company is framing its reversal as a simple response to “requests” it received to continue offering home screen web apps. Regardless, only European iOS 17.4 beta users are without web apps, and they’ll have them back once the software’s final version arrives.

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